NCSC seeks arrest of Punjab Congress chief Warring in 5 days over casteist remark
Synopsis
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has given Punjab Police a five-day ultimatum to arrest Congress MP Amarinder Raja Warring over alleged casteist remarks about the late Buta Singh — months after an FIR was filed and repeated commission directives went unheeded. The case puts both Punjab Police and the Congress under acute scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
The NCSC on 31 August directed Punjab Police to arrest Amarinder Raja Warring within five days .
An FIR was registered against Warring in November under the BNS 2023 and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 .
The complaint was filed by Sarabjot Singh Sidhu , son of the late former Home Minister Buta Singh .
The NCSC, chaired by Kishor Makwana , flagged non-compliance with earlier directives from 5 May and the absence of an Action Taken Report.
Police protection has been ordered for the petitioner and his dependents in Delhi and Punjab under Section 15-A of the SC/ST Act.
The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has also issued summons to Warring separately.
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Monday, 31 August directed Punjab Police to arrest Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Raja Warring within five days for allegedly making casteist remarks against former Union Home Minister the late Buta Singh at an election rally in 2025. The constitutional body flagged serious concern over what it described as an unacceptable delay in the investigation and arrest despite earlier directives.
Background of the Case
Punjab Police had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Warring in November 2024 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, along with Sections 3(1)(u) and 3(1)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The case was initiated on a complaint filed by Sarabjot Singh Sidhu, the son of the late Buta Singh.
Warring, a Member of Parliament from Ludhiana, allegedly made remarks referencing the late politician's skin colour while campaigning for the party's candidate at the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, scheduled for 11 November 2025. The NCSC had initially taken suo motu cognisance of the matter based on a statement by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tarun Chugh.
NCSC's Key Directives
The commission, chaired by Kishor Makwana, noted that its recommendations from a previous hearing on 5 May had not been acted upon, and that the Action Taken Report it had sought remained unsubmitted. In its latest order, the NCSC warned that if wilful neglect of duty is established against the Investigating Officer(s), departmental action — including proceedings under Section 4 of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act — may be initiated.
'In case any willful neglect of duty is found on the part of the Investigating Officer(s), appropriate departmental action, including consideration under Section 4 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, may be initiated,' the commission observed.
A fresh Action Taken Report has been sought within 30 days.
Protection Ordered for Petitioner
On the question of the complainant's security, the NCSC recommended immediate police protection for Sarabjot Singh Sidhu and his dependents in both Delhi and Punjab, invoking Section 15-A of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This provision mandates protection of witnesses and victims in atrocity cases.
Warring's Response and Political Fallout
Facing mounting criticism, Warring had earlier clarified that the late Buta Singh was 'like a father figure' to him and that he could 'never mean any disrespect to him or to anyone else.' The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission had separately taken suo motu notice of the matter and issued summons to him. The episode has deepened political tensions in Punjab, where caste dynamics play a decisive role in electoral outcomes.
With the NCSC now setting a five-day deadline for arrest and the state commission also seized of the matter, the pressure on Punjab Police to act is at its highest since the FIR was registered.
Point of View
And its warning of departmental action against the Investigating Officer raises the stakes for Punjab Police, which operates under a Congress-allied AAP government. The delay since November, when the FIR was first registered, is difficult to explain on procedural grounds alone. Warring's clarification that Buta Singh was a 'father figure' has done little to defuse the matter legally. With both the NCSC and the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission now in motion, the case tests whether state police forces act independently when the accused belongs to a politically significant party.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the NCSC sought the arrest of Amarinder Raja Warring?
The NCSC has directed Punjab Police to arrest Warring within five days for allegedly making casteist remarks about the late former Union Home Minister Buta Singh at a Tarn Taran election rally in 2025. An FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the BNS 2023 was registered in November, but the commission found that no arrest had been made despite its earlier directives.
What was the alleged casteist remark made by Warring?
Warring allegedly made a reference to the late Buta Singh's skin colour while campaigning for the Congress candidate at the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll scheduled for 11 November 2025. Warring later clarified he meant no disrespect and that Buta Singh was like a father figure to him.
What action has the NCSC threatened against Punjab Police?
The NCSC warned that if wilful neglect of duty is found on the part of the Investigating Officer(s), departmental action — including proceedings under Section 4 of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act — may be initiated. It has also sought a fresh Action Taken Report within 30 days.
Who filed the complaint against Warring?
The complaint was filed by Sarabjot Singh Sidhu, the son of the late Buta Singh. The NCSC also took suo motu cognisance of the matter based on a statement by BJP leader Tarun Chugh.
What protection has been ordered for the complainant?
The NCSC has recommended immediate police protection for Sarabjot Singh Sidhu and his dependents in both Delhi and Punjab, under Section 15-A of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which mandates protection for victims and witnesses in atrocity cases.
