TARN TARAN, Aug. 22 — Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of slain Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, will not contest the upcoming Tarn Taran Assembly by-election, the Khalra Mission Organisation (KMO) said Thursday.
Kaur, who serves as patron of the KMO, was speculated to be a potential candidate in the bypoll. However, the group’s president, Harmandeep Singh Sarhali, confirmed that she would not be entering the race. “We have informed everyone that she will not contest the poll,” Sarhali said.
Jaswant Singh Khalra, internationally recognized for exposing thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s, was abducted and killed by police in 1995. His wife has since been associated with the Khalra Mission Organisation, which continues his advocacy for justice and human rights.
Kaur, who is currently residing in the United States, has played a symbolic role in keeping her husband’s legacy alive but has largely stayed away from active politics.
The Tarn Taran bypoll, which has drawn attention due to its political and historical significance, will now proceed without her participation, with parties expected to announce their official candidates in the coming days.
