Amrinder Singh Raja Warring: Difference between revisions

General
What links here Related changes Permanent link Page information Get shortened URL Edit interlanguage links
Print/export
Download as PDF Printable version
Created by Abhaybrar7
Last edited September 9, 2026
Talk
← Older editNewer edit →
VisualWikitext
Parliament debates need to be corrected
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Indian Politician}}
{{short description|Indian politician}}
++{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name               = Amarinder Singh (Raja Warring)
| name               = Amarinder Singh Brar
| image               = Raja_Warring.jpg
| image             = Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.jpg
| caption            =
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|11|29}}<br>[[Sri Muktsar Sahib]], [[Punjab, India]]
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|11|29}}
| office             = President<br />[[Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee]]
| residence          = Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab
| term_start        = 9 April 2022
| office             = President, [[Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee]]
| predecessor        = [[Navjot Singh Sidhu]]
| office2             = Member of [[Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| office2           = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency2       = [[Ludhiana (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ludhiana]]
| term_start2        = 4 June 2024
| term2              =4 June 2024 – Present
| constituency2     = [[Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency|Ludhiana]]
| predecessor2       = [[Ravneet Singh Bittu]]
| predecessor2       = [[Ravneet Singh Bittu]]
| successor2          = Incumbent
| office3            = [[Government of Punjab, India|Minister of Transport, Punjab]]
| party               = [[Indian National Congress]]
| office4            = [[Punjab Legislative Assembly|Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly]]
| spouse             = Amrita Warring
| constituency4      = [[Gidderbaha Assembly constituency|Gidderbaha]]
| children           = 2
| predecessor4      = [[Manpreet Singh Badal]]
| termstart          = 9 April 2022
| party             = [[Indian National Congress]]
| spouse             = Amrita Singh
| children           = 2
| education          = [[Matriculation#India|Matriculation]] ([[Punjab School Education Board|PSEB]])
| term_start3        = 20 September 2021
| term_start4        = March 2012
| term_end4          = June 2024
| successor4        = [[Hardeep Singh Dhillon]]
| term_end3          = 10 March 2022
| predecessor3      = [[Razia Sultana (politician)|Razia Sultana]]
| successor3        = [[Laljit Singh Bhullar|Laljit Bhullar]]
}}
}}


'''Amarinder Singh Brar''', (born 29 November 1977)<ref name="pan">{{cite web|title=Know Your PAN|url=https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/Services/KnowYourPanLinkGS.html|website=incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in|publisher=Income Tax Department, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.|access-date=19 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320053227/https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/Services/KnowYourPanLinkGS.html|archive-date=20 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> popularly known as '''Amarinder Singh Raja Warring''', is an Indian politician and  a Member of Parliament<ref>{{cite news|title=Amarinder Singh Raja Warring is Punjab Congress chief, Partap Singh Bajwa CLP leader". Tribune India. 9 April 2022.|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/amarinder-singh-raja-warring-is-punjab-congress-chief-partap-singh-bajwa-clp-leader-384969|work=Tribune India|date=9 April 2022|language=en}}</ref> from Ludhiana in the 18th Lok Sabha. He also serves as President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and previously served as Transport Minister of Punjab<ref>"Punjab portfolios: [https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-portfolios-cm-channi-keeps-vigilance-mining-power-deputy-randhawa-gets-home-soni-health-101632814497355.html CM Channi keeps vigilance, mining, power; deputy Randhawa gets home, Soni health]". ''Hindustan Times''. 28 September 2021.</ref>. of the state of [[Punjab, India]].
'''Amarinder Singh Brar''' (born 29 November 1977)<ref name="pan2" /> also known as Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, or Raja Warring, is an Indian politician associated with the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref name="ht2021" /> He represents the [[Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency|Ludhiana]] constituency in the [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha]] and serves as president of the [[Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee]].<ref name="toi2024" /> Warring represented the [[Gidderbaha Assembly constituency|Gidderbaha]] constituency as a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly]] for three consecutive terms from 2012 to 2024 and has been described as one of the Congress party's prominent leaders in Punjab. He was born in the Malwa region and lost both parents during childhood. His maternal uncles subsequently raised him. He entered politics through the [[Indian Youth Congress]] and served as its national president from 2014 to 2018.


== Political career ==
== Political career ==
An elected [[enwiki:Member_of_the_Legislative_Assembly_(India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]] from [[Gidderbaha Assembly Constituency|Gidderbaha]],<ref name="ie">{{cite news|last1=Dhaliwal|first1=Shub Karman|title=Punjab Elections Results 2017: Panjab University alumni script success story, win Assembly poll|url=http://indianexpress.com/elections/punjab-assembly-elections-2017/punjab-elections-results-2017-panjab-university-alumni-script-success-story-win-assembly-poll-4566196/|access-date=19 March 2017|publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref> district [[Sri Muktsar Sahib district|Sri Muktsar Sahib]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] to the [[Punjab Legislative Assembly]], Warring was also  president of the [[Indian Youth Congress]], the youth division of [[Indian National Congress]], from December 2014 to May 2018.<ref name="ie" /> In March 2017, he was elected as an MLA<ref name="ie" /> for the second successive time, after completing his first term from 2012–2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kamali|first1=Neel|title=Sukhbir's bid to regain Gidderbaha back for SAD|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Sukhbirs-bid-to-regain-Gidderbaha-back-for-SAD/articleshow/53747573.cms|access-date=19 March 2017|agency=TNN|work=The Times of India|date=18 Aug 2016}}</ref> Warring contested from [[Bathinda (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bathinda]] constituency in the  [[2019 Indian general election]] against [[Harsimrat Kaur Badal]] but lost by over 20,000 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/akali-s-harsimrat-wins-from-bathinda-lok-sabha-seat-1533085-2019-05-24|title=SAD's Harsimrat Kaur Badal wins from Bathinda Lok Sabha seat|date=24 May 2019|work=India Today|access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref> In April 2022, Warring was appointed President of the [https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/amarinder-singh-raja-warring-is-punjab-congress-chief-partap-singh-bajwa-clp-leader-384969 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committe]. He contested the 2024 general election from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency and was elected to the 18th Lok Sabha. He took oath as a Member of Parliament on 25 June 2024<ref>"Punjab MPs oath ceremony: [https://www.ptcnews.tv/punjab-2/punjab-mps-oath-ceremony-newly-elected-members-of-lok-sabha-from-punjab-oath-today-4392744 12 newly elected members from Punjab take oath in Punjabi]. 25 June 2024.


''PTC Punjabi''</ref>. As an MP, he has raised issues including agriculture and farmers, rural employment, industrial worker, and civil aviation. According to his [https://rajawarring.com/article/raja-warring-in-parliament-82-questions-raised-and-18-debates-in-18th-lok-sabha Parliamentary Record], Raja Warring has raised 85 questions and participated in 18 debates in the Lok Sabha<ref>"[https://prsindia.org/mptrack/18th-lok-sabha/amrinder-singh-raja-warring Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. PRS Legislative Research]. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
Warring served as president of the [[Indian Youth Congress]], the youth wing of the [[Indian National Congress]], from December 2014 until May 2018.<ref name="ie" />


''PRS India''</ref> so far.
===MLA: First term===
 
Warring was first elected to the [[Punjab Legislative Assembly]] from the [[Gidderbaha Assembly constituency|Gidderbaha]] constituency in the 2012–2017 term.<ref name="ie">{{cite news|last1=Dhaliwal|first1=Shub Karman|title=Punjab Elections Results 2017: Panjab University alumni script success story, win Assembly poll|url=http://indianexpress.com/elections/punjab-assembly-elections-2017/punjab-elections-results-2017-panjab-university-alumni-script-success-story-win-assembly-poll-4566196/|access-date=19 March 2017|publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref> The constituency is located in [[Sri Muktsar Sahib district|Sri Muktsar Sahib]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name="ie" /><ref name="Ex-legislators {{!}} In the major league now">{{cite news |last1=India Today |date=13 July 2024 |title=Ex-legislators {{!}} In the major league now |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/18th-lok-sabha-the-debutants/story/20240722-ex-legislators-in-the-major-league-now-2565848-2024-07-13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806121923/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/18th-lok-sabha-the-debutants/story/20240722-ex-legislators-in-the-major-league-now-2565848-2024-07-13 |archivedate=6 August 2024 |accessdate=6 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
 
===MLA: Second term===
 
In March 2017, Warring secured re-election to the assembly for a second consecutive term, following his first term from 2012 to 2017.<ref name="ie" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kamali|first1=Neel|title=Sukhbir's bid to regain Gidderbaha back for SAD|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Sukhbirs-bid-to-regain-Gidderbaha-back-for-SAD/articleshow/53747573.cms|access-date=19 March 2017|agency=TNN|work=The Times of India|date=18 Aug 2016}}</ref> During this period, he held the position of Transport Minister in the Punjab government.<ref name="Novel ways" />
 
Warring contested the [[Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency|Bathinda]] seat in the [[2019 Indian general election]], where he faced [[Harsimrat Kaur Badal]]. He was defeated by more than 20,000 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bathinda Elections 2019: Punjab Lok Sabha Constituency Poll Dates, Parliamentary Election, Candidates, Schedule, Latest News {{!}} Opinion Poll, Exit Poll, 2014 Election Results and Survey Online |url=https://www.firstpost.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019/punjab/bathinda-election-result-2019-s19p11 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref>
 
===MLA: Third term===
 
Warring won the [[2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election]] from the same constituency, securing a third consecutive term as MLA.<ref name="Novel ways">{{cite news  |title=In Muktsar, novel ways to reach out to voters |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/in-muktsar-novel-ways-to-reach-out-to-voters-367094 |access-date=14 March 2022 |work=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}</ref> In April 2022, the Congress national leadership appointed him president of the [[Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee|Congress party in Punjab]].<ref name="Tribune News 9 April 2022">{{cite news |title=Punjab Congress appointments: High command tries to maintain region, experience and caste balance |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/punjab-congress-appointments-high-command-tries-to-maintain-region-experience-and-caste-balance-384971 |access-date=12 April 2022 |work=Tribuneindia News Service |date=9 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
 
In his capacity as PPCC president, Warring participated in several prominent political campaigns. In March 2025, he headed a protest march towards the Punjab Vidhan Sabha over the AAP government's 2022 election commitment to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to women in the state. Police used water cannons against the protesters, and Warring was detained.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 March 2025 |title=Punjab Congress protest over AAP Promise of Rs 1,100 to women, Raja Warring Detained |url=https://www.rozanaspokesman.com/news/chandigarh/210325/punjab-congress-protest-over-aap-promise-of-rs-1100-to-women-raja-war.html |publisher=Rozana Spokesman}}</ref>
 
In April 2026, Warring stated that the Congress party would nominate women candidates for 33 per cent of the seats in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 April 2026 |title=Congress to field women on 33% of Assembly seats, says Raja Warring |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/cong-to-field-women-on-33-of-assembly-seats-warring/ |publisher=Tribune India}}</ref> Later that month, he filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a prohibition on the web series ''Lawrence of Punjab'', alleging that the series promoted or glorified gangster culture.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 April 2026 |title=Raja Warring moves High Court against Lawrence of Punjab series |url=https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=220119 |publisher=Babushahi}}</ref>
 
===MP: First term===
 
In June 2024, Warring won the [[2024 Indian general election]] from the [[Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency]]. He was elected to the [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha]] after defeating his closest rival, [[Ravneet Singh Bittu]] of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], by 20,942 votes.<ref name="Bullish Wins & Bearish Losses: Here are the key contests and results of 2024 Lok Sabha polls">{{cite news|last1=The Economic Times|title=Bullish Wins & Bearish Losses: Here are the key contests and results of 2024 Lok Sabha polls|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/bullish-wins-bearish-losses-here-are-the-key-contests-of-2024-lok-sabha-results/articleshow/110713130.cms?from=mdr|accessdate=27 July 2024|date=6 June 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727153249/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/bullish-wins-bearish-losses-here-are-the-key-contests-of-2024-lok-sabha-results/articleshow/110713130.cms?from=mdr|archivedate=27 July 2024}}</ref>


== Family ==
== Family ==
Born to Kuldeep Singh and Malkeet Kaur, he lost his parents when he was still a child, and was brought up in his maternal uncles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/slip-of-the-tongue-765265|title=Slip of the tongue|last=Service|first=Tribune News|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en|access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref> He is married to [https://rajawarring.com/article/raja-warring-wife-amrita-warring-family-background-and-public-life-in-punjab Amrita Warring], and he has a son and a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://punjabassembly.nic.in/index.php/members/detail/61|title=Members|website=punjabassembly.nic.in|access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref> He was earlier known as Raja Sotha, with Sotha being the name of his maternal village. Later, he began using the name of his paternal village called Warring.
 
Warring was born to Kuldeep Singh and Malkeet Kaur. He lost both parents during his childhood and was subsequently raised by his maternal uncles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/slip-of-the-tongue-765265|title=Slip of the tongue|last=Service|first=Tribune News|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en|access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref> He is married to Amrita Singh and has two children, a son and a daughter. She is an INC candidate in the upcoming state by-polls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://punjabassembly.nic.in/index.php/members/detail/61|title=Members|website=punjabassembly.nic.in|access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref>
 
He was previously known as Raja Sotha, with "Sotha" referring to the name of his maternal village. He later adopted the name of his paternal village, Warring.
 
==Controversies==
 
In June 2022, the [[Shiromani Akali Dal]] (SAD) called for a [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] investigation into bus-body procurement carried out while Warring was serving as Punjab transport minister. The party alleged, based on information obtained through Right to Information applications, that contracts given to a Jaipur-based company were more expensive than locally available alternatives and had resulted in financial losses to the state exchequer. The allegations were reported by ''The Statesman'' and ''The Times of India''.<ref>{{cite news |title=SAD demands CBI probe into alleged Rs 60-Cr scam by Raja Warring |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/sad-demands-cbi-probe-alleged-rs-60-cr-scam-raja-warring-1503084143.html |access-date=7 September 2025 |work=The Statesman |date=24 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Let CBI investigate 60cr bus purchase 'scam' by Warring, says Akali Dal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/let-cbi-investigate-60cr-bus-purchase-scam-by-warring-says-akali-dal/articleshow/92445280.cms |access-date=7 September 2025 |work=The Times of India |date=25 June 2022}}</ref>
 
In September 2023, media reports stated that the Punjab Vigilance Bureau was examining alleged irregularities associated with Warring's period as transport minister, including issues involving bus-body procurement and route permits. Separately, Punjab Chief Minister [[Bhagwant Mann]] publicly accused Warring of wrongdoing during his tenure.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thaper |first1=Amanat |title=Vigilance Probe Launched into Alleged Irregularities Involving Punjab Congress Chief Raja Warring |url=https://www.rozanaspokesman.com/news/punjab/140923/vigilance-probe-launched-into-alleged-irregularities-involving-punjab.html |access-date=7 September 2025 |work=Rozana Spokesman |date=14 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Warring made money as transport min: CM |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/warring-made-money-as-transport-min-cm/articleshow/103545865.cms |access-date=7 September 2025 |work=The Times of India |date=10 September 2023}}</ref>
 
===Controversy over remarks toward the Mazhabi Sikh community===
 
In November 2025, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring came under criticism and faced legal proceedings over comments concerning former Union Home Minister [[Buta Singh]], who belonged to the [[Mazhabi Sikh]] community. Buta Singh's son filed a complaint alleging that Warring had referred to the former minister using expressions including "Kala Mazhabi Sikh" ("Black Mazhabi Sikh") in a derogatory manner during a campaign speech. The complainant described the remarks as offensive, casteist and defamatory towards both Buta Singh and the wider Scheduled Caste community. An FIR was registered under the [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act]] and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code.<ref>{{cite news |title=FIR against Punjab Congress chief Warring over caste-based comments on Buta Singh |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/fir-against-punjab-congress-chief-warring-over-caste-based-comments-on-buta-singh/ |access-date=25 January 2026 |work=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
 
Warring subsequently offered an unconditional apology for any offence or hurt caused by his remarks. Political opponents and organisations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party, condemned the comments and called for action. The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission also took cognisance of the matter and sought responses from election officials. The allegations included the claim that the language used could demean and adversely affect the dignity of members of the Mazhabi Sikh community.<ref>{{cite news |title='Inflammatory & defamatory': Badal slams casteist remarks against Mazhabi community by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/inflammatory-defamatory-badal-slams-casteist-remarks-against-mazhabi-community-by-punjab-congress-president-amarinder-singh-raja-warring/articleshow/125066943.cms |access-date=25 January 2026 |work=The Times of India |date=4 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mahajan |first1=Anilesh S. |title=Why Raja Warring's Buta Singh row is Congress's Punjab bypoll headache |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-raja-warrings-buta-singh-row-is-congresss-punjab-bypoll-headache-2815848-2025-11-08 |access-date=25 January 2026 |work=India Today |date=8 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
 
===Controversy over alleged “neck-twisting” remark===
 
During a period of political tension in Punjab, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, president of the Punjab unit of the Indian National Congress, was accused by political opponents of making an indirect threat against a [[Dalit]] minister. The controversy concerned his use of a phrase that critics translated as "twisting his neck" during a public exchange. Opposition parties and some community organisations objected to the remark, describing it as inappropriate and potentially intimidating, particularly because the minister concerned belonged to a [[Scheduled Caste]] community. They argued that the wording could be understood as threatening and insensitive given the caste-related sensitivities of Punjab's political environment.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-Dalit mindset: AAP slams Congress leaders' remarks on Punjab Cabinet minister |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/aap-amrinder-singh-raja-warring-pratap-singh-bajwa-remark-punjab-cabinet-minister-harbhajan-singh-eto-anti-dalit-2865680-2026-02-09 |access-date=13 February 2026 |work=India Today |date=9 February 2026 |language=en}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Navjot Singh Sidhu]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=President<br />[[Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee]]|years=2022 – present}}
{{s-inc}}
<!--{{s-aft|after= }}-->
{{s-end}}
== External links ==
* [https://rajawarring.com/ Official website of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring]
  {{18th LS members from Punjab}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Warring, Amrinder Singh Raja}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Warring, Amrinder Singh Raja}}
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Punjab, India MLAs 2012–2017]]
[[Category:Punjab, India MLAs 2012–2017]]
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Punjab, India MLAs 2017–2022]]
[[Category:Punjab, India MLAs 2017–2022]]
 
[[Category:Punjab, India MLAs 2022–2027]]
 
[[Category:Transport ministers of Punjab, India]]
{{PunjabIN-INC-politician-stub}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Presidents of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee]]

Revision as of 20:57, 9 September 2026

Amarinder Singh Brar
President
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee
Assumed office
9 April 2022
Preceded byNavjot Singh Sidhu
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
4 June 2024
Preceded byRavneet Singh Bittu
ConstituencyLudhiana
Minister of Transport, Punjab
In office
20 September 2021 – 10 March 2022
Preceded byRazia Sultana
Succeeded byLaljit Bhullar
Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly
In office
March 2012 – June 2024
Preceded byManpreet Singh Badal
Succeeded byHardeep Singh Dhillon
ConstituencyGidderbaha
Personal details
Born (1977-11-29) 29 November 1977 (age 48)
Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse(s)Amrita Singh
Children2
EducationMatriculation (PSEB)

Amarinder Singh Brar (born 29 November 1977)[1] also known as Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, or Raja Warring, is an Indian politician associated with the Indian National Congress.[2] He represents the Ludhiana constituency in the Lok Sabha and serves as president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.[3] Warring represented the Gidderbaha constituency as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for three consecutive terms from 2012 to 2024 and has been described as one of the Congress party's prominent leaders in Punjab. He was born in the Malwa region and lost both parents during childhood. His maternal uncles subsequently raised him. He entered politics through the Indian Youth Congress and served as its national president from 2014 to 2018.

Political career

Warring served as president of the Indian Youth Congress, the youth wing of the Indian National Congress, from December 2014 until May 2018.[4]

MLA: First term

Warring was first elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly from the Gidderbaha constituency in the 2012–2017 term.[4] The constituency is located in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab.[4][5]

MLA: Second term

In March 2017, Warring secured re-election to the assembly for a second consecutive term, following his first term from 2012 to 2017.[4][6] During this period, he held the position of Transport Minister in the Punjab government.[7]

Warring contested the Bathinda seat in the 2019 Indian general election, where he faced Harsimrat Kaur Badal. He was defeated by more than 20,000 votes.[8]

MLA: Third term

Warring won the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election from the same constituency, securing a third consecutive term as MLA.[7] In April 2022, the Congress national leadership appointed him president of the Congress party in Punjab.[9]

In his capacity as PPCC president, Warring participated in several prominent political campaigns. In March 2025, he headed a protest march towards the Punjab Vidhan Sabha over the AAP government's 2022 election commitment to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to women in the state. Police used water cannons against the protesters, and Warring was detained.[10]

In April 2026, Warring stated that the Congress party would nominate women candidates for 33 per cent of the seats in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.[11] Later that month, he filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a prohibition on the web series Lawrence of Punjab, alleging that the series promoted or glorified gangster culture.[12]

MP: First term

In June 2024, Warring won the 2024 Indian general election from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency. He was elected to the Lok Sabha after defeating his closest rival, Ravneet Singh Bittu of the Bharatiya Janata Party, by 20,942 votes.[13]

Family

Warring was born to Kuldeep Singh and Malkeet Kaur. He lost both parents during his childhood and was subsequently raised by his maternal uncles.[14] He is married to Amrita Singh and has two children, a son and a daughter. She is an INC candidate in the upcoming state by-polls.[15]

He was previously known as Raja Sotha, with "Sotha" referring to the name of his maternal village. He later adopted the name of his paternal village, Warring.

Controversies

In June 2022, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) called for a Central Bureau of Investigation investigation into bus-body procurement carried out while Warring was serving as Punjab transport minister. The party alleged, based on information obtained through Right to Information applications, that contracts given to a Jaipur-based company were more expensive than locally available alternatives and had resulted in financial losses to the state exchequer. The allegations were reported by The Statesman and The Times of India.[16][17]

In September 2023, media reports stated that the Punjab Vigilance Bureau was examining alleged irregularities associated with Warring's period as transport minister, including issues involving bus-body procurement and route permits. Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann publicly accused Warring of wrongdoing during his tenure.[18][19]

Controversy over remarks toward the Mazhabi Sikh community

In November 2025, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring came under criticism and faced legal proceedings over comments concerning former Union Home Minister Buta Singh, who belonged to the Mazhabi Sikh community. Buta Singh's son filed a complaint alleging that Warring had referred to the former minister using expressions including "Kala Mazhabi Sikh" ("Black Mazhabi Sikh") in a derogatory manner during a campaign speech. The complainant described the remarks as offensive, casteist and defamatory towards both Buta Singh and the wider Scheduled Caste community. An FIR was registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code.[20]

Warring subsequently offered an unconditional apology for any offence or hurt caused by his remarks. Political opponents and organisations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party, condemned the comments and called for action. The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission also took cognisance of the matter and sought responses from election officials. The allegations included the claim that the language used could demean and adversely affect the dignity of members of the Mazhabi Sikh community.[21][22]

Controversy over alleged “neck-twisting” remark

During a period of political tension in Punjab, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, president of the Punjab unit of the Indian National Congress, was accused by political opponents of making an indirect threat against a Dalit minister. The controversy concerned his use of a phrase that critics translated as "twisting his neck" during a public exchange. Opposition parties and some community organisations objected to the remark, describing it as inappropriate and potentially intimidating, particularly because the minister concerned belonged to a Scheduled Caste community. They argued that the wording could be understood as threatening and insensitive given the caste-related sensitivities of Punjab's political environment.[23]

References

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named pan2
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ht2021
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named toi2024
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Dhaliwal, Shub Karman. "Punjab Elections Results 2017: Panjab University alumni script success story, win Assembly poll". The Indian Express. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  5. ↑ India Today (13 July 2024). "Ex-legislators | In the major league now". Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  6. ↑ Kamali, Neel (18 August 2016). "Sukhbir's bid to regain Gidderbaha back for SAD". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "In Muktsar, novel ways to reach out to voters". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Bathinda Elections 2019: Punjab Lok Sabha Constituency Poll Dates, Parliamentary Election, Candidates, Schedule, Latest News | Opinion Poll, Exit Poll, 2014 Election Results and Survey Online". Firstpost. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Punjab Congress appointments: High command tries to maintain region, experience and caste balance". Tribuneindia News Service. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Punjab Congress protest over AAP Promise of Rs 1,100 to women, Raja Warring Detained". Rozana Spokesman. 21 March 2025.
  11. ↑ "Congress to field women on 33% of Assembly seats, says Raja Warring". Tribune India. 21 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "Raja Warring moves High Court against Lawrence of Punjab series". Babushahi. 22 April 2026.
  13. ↑ The Economic Times (6 June 2024). "Bullish Wins & Bearish Losses: Here are the key contests and results of 2024 Lok Sabha polls". Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  14. ↑ Service, Tribune News. "Slip of the tongue". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  15. ↑ "Members". punjabassembly.nic.in. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  16. ↑ "SAD demands CBI probe into alleged Rs 60-Cr scam by Raja Warring". The Statesman. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Let CBI investigate 60cr bus purchase 'scam' by Warring, says Akali Dal". The Times of India. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  18. ↑ Thaper, Amanat (14 September 2023). "Vigilance Probe Launched into Alleged Irregularities Involving Punjab Congress Chief Raja Warring". Rozana Spokesman. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  19. ↑ "Warring made money as transport min: CM". The Times of India. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "FIR against Punjab Congress chief Warring over caste-based comments on Buta Singh". The Tribune. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  21. ↑ "'Inflammatory & defamatory': Badal slams casteist remarks against Mazhabi community by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring". The Times of India. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  22. ↑ Mahajan, Anilesh S. (8 November 2025). "Why Raja Warring's Buta Singh row is Congress's Punjab bypoll headache". India Today. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  23. ↑ "Anti-Dalit mindset: AAP slams Congress leaders' remarks on Punjab Cabinet minister". India Today. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Navjot Singh Sidhu 		President
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee
2022 – present 		Incumbent

External links

 Template:18th LS members from Punjab
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amrinder_Singh_Raja_Warring&oldid=560140"
Discover more