Punjab assembly elections

Punjab: A Look at Influential Deras and Their Roles in Elections

Ahead of the polls, Dera Sacha Sauda’s infamous chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released on furlough, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the head of another influential dera.

Jalandhar: As Punjab heads for assembly elections on February 20, two developments in the past fortnight have once again highlighted the influential role played by ‘deras’ or religious centres that are headed by a preacher, who generally teaches philosophy, religion and way of life.

The first development was the 21-day parole granted to Dera Sacha Sauda’s infamous chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The second was the head of the Dera Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13. Both these deras enjoy considerable sway over people.

There are many more deras in Punjab, but some prominent ones always come into the picture whenever elections are around the corner. Since a large number of people follow deras, politicians from across parties also visit them to seek support, a testament to their clout. The Wire traces some influential deras in Punjab.

Dera Sacha Sauda

The Haryana-based Dera Sacha Sauda was thrown into the spotlight in August 2017, when its chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted of rape. His followers then went on the rampage in Punjab and Haryana, leading to the death of 38 people.

The dera’s political wing has a history of backing different parties. While its supporters include people from different sections of the society, their largest support base is from Dalits. Though the dera is based in Sirsa, Haryana, it wields influence in Punjab’s Malwa belt. This region of Punjab is the largest and accounts for 69 of the state’s 117 assembly seats.

Among the key districts where the dera enjoys a strong base are Bathinda, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Sangrur, Muktsar and Mansa.

Earlier, the SAD, the BJP and the Congress had taken support from the dera, but its alleged involvement in the 2015 sacrilege case – apart from Ram Rahim’s conviction – has meant that parties are treading cautiously ahead of this election. Even the dera is yet to announce its support for any party.

In the 2002 assembly polls, the dera supported Amarinder Singh, after which the Congress came to power. In 2007, the dera again supported the Congress but the party lost the polls. During the 2012 polls, the dera supported individual candidates instead of a party and threw its weight behind the SAD-BJP in 2017, but the alliance was voted out.

Ritin Khanna, the executive editor of Uttam Hindu, said if the dera decides to support the BJP, it could prove to be a gamechanger. “On average, it commands the support of at least 15,000 people in 30 seats of Malwa. As we have a multi-cornered contest in Punjab, these votes can play a crucial role. Moreover, the BJP’s surveys in Malwa have found that dera votes can boost its chances in other constituencies of Punjab too,” Khanna said.

However, the Dera Sacha Sauda’s political committee member Ram Singh Insan said, “We have not taken any decision on this issue. All politicians visit our dera, as they have every right to seek votes.”

A dera follower, Jyoti Joram (20) from Bathinda, said, “We will vote as per the directions of the dera authorities. It is our good luck to fulfil the guruji’s command.”

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Dera Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Amritsar

An ‘apolitical’ organisation, Dera Radha Saomi Satsang Beas in Amritsar suddenly made headlines after its chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon met Modi in Delhi on February 13, leading to speculations in the poll-bound state.

Dhillon also met Union home minister Amit Shah on February 16 at the dera headquarters in Beas. A photo of the meeting was tweeted by Shah.

Earlier, in December 2021, the dera chief met CM Charanjit Singh Channi at his house. The meeting led to speculation as it came a day after an FIR was lodged against SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. His wife Ganieve Kaur is a distant relative of the dera head.

As per a book published by the dera titled Equilibrium of Love, it has 5,000 branches across the country. It also has branches in 90 countries. A prominent dera, its followers come from all religions, castes and from all walks of life, including retired Army officers, bureaucrats, politicians, actors, singers, writers, NRIs, farmers and labourers. Even Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor is a follower of the dera. His father Pankaj Kapur’s voiceovers have been used in many short films on social issues, which are played during satsangs.

A dera functionary, requesting anonymity, said, “The dera chief’s meeting with PM Modi has raised eyebrows because ideally, dignitaries visit the dera and attend the satsang, and take langar. But the meeting with the PM was outside the dera in Delhi. We have learnt that a senior official of the dera, who is reportedly close to Modi, was behind this meeting.”

The dera functionary said that Rahul Gandhi had visited the dera in early 2020 and stayed for two days on the premises. “Even during the 2017 assembly and 2019 parliamentary polls, a section of dera functionaries supported select candidates in the state. They do play an active role in elections but not overtly,” the official said.

Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Jalandhar

The Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar is a revered place of the Addharmi or Ravidassia community of the Doaba region of Punjab, which covers Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr districts.

The dera is headed by Sant Niranjan Dass and has followers across Punjab and even abroad. Such is the political prominence of this dera that before elections, all politicians come to pay obeisance.

It hogged the limelight when the then head of the dera, Sant Ramanand, was killed in Vienna, Austria in May 2009, leading to violence by agitated followers across Punjab, particularly in Doaba.

CM Channi, who hails from the Ramdasia Sikh community, stayed overnight at the dera in January. This was seen as an attempt to consolidate Dalit votes.

Charanjit Singh Channi with Satguru Swami Niranjan Dass Maharaj at Dera Sachkhand Ballan Jalandhar. Photo: Twitter

Not many people know that the Guru Ravidass temple in Benaras, Uttar Pradesh was constructed by the Dera Ballan in 1965.

Baldev Kumar, a dera follower from Nawanshahr district, said “The dera authorities have never told us whom to vote for. Neither have they interfered nor do they have any political interests. All they want is the upliftment and empowerment of Dalits.”

Jagdev Jassal, another follower from Sham Chaurasi in the Hoshiarpur district, said, “We have never been controlled by the dera on any issue.”

Dera spokesperson Sat Paul Virdi said, “We have never asked people to vote for any party. It is purely their decision.”

Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan, Nurmahal, Jalandhar

The Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan situated at Nurmahal in Jalandhar came to the limelight after its founder-head Ashutosh Maharaj was found dead under mysterious circumstances on the dera premises on January 30, 2014.

Following his death, its functionaries claimed that Ashutosh Maharaj had gone into “samadhi” and was not dead. The incident had led to major controversy but the sansthan authorities remained firm on their stand.

Until now, nobody has seen the body of Ashutosh Maharaj in ‘samadhi’, which is kept in a freezer. The dera authorities claim that Ashutosh will come out of samadhi soon. Post this incident, the then SAD-BJP government had named a village, ‘Divya Gram’, after the sect.

Despite a lot of pressure for investigation, the government has played safe and went in sync with the dera authorities’ claim. The dera is based on Hindu religion and philosophy and holds satsangs on Sundays and important days. It is usually flocked by politicians.

Swami Vishalanand, a functionary of the sansthan, said, “We have a neutral and non-political stand on elections. As per our head Ashutosh Maharaj, voting is the right of a voter and they are free to cast votes as per their liking.”

Punjab Elections: Allegations of ‘Dynasty Politics’ Continue to Dog Badals and SAD

With several members of the family in the fray this time, the outcome may have a telling effect on the SAD’s future.

Jalandhar: At a rally in Nawanshahr district on February 8, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati lauded former the patriarch of her alliance partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Parkash Singh Badal for his seva bhav (will to serve) at the ripe age of 94.

Mayawati said, “Parkash Singh Badal was chief minsiter of Punjab many times. He may be old now but his desire to serve the people is still there. This is the reason why he is also contesting the election. Both Sukhbir Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal are also working hard to ensure the victory of the SAD-BSP alliance.”

While Mayawati’s words may resonate with SAD leaders, there is a section of voters that feels the party has been reduced to Badal’s fiefdom, raising questions over dynasty politics. The Badal family has been facing this allegation for the past over one decade, particularly after coming to power in 2007.

Ahead of the February 20 assembly polls, the family continues to face this allegation – this time, even more members of the Badal family are in the fray.

While Parkash Badal is contesting from the Lambi seat in Sri Muktsar Sahib district, his son Sukhbir is contesting from Jalalabad in Fazilka. Bikram Singh Majithia, who is Sukhbir’s brother-in-law, is contesting from the Amritsar East constituency while his wife, debutant Ganieve Kaur, is contesting from her husband’s home turf, the Majitha assembly segment.

Parkash Singh Badal’s son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon is contesting from the Patti assembly seat in the Tarn Taran district. Kairon is the grandson of former Punjab chief minister Partap Singh Kairon and has earlier served as a cabinet minister.

On the other hand, Sukhbir’s wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal is a three-time MP from Bathinda. She was serving as a Union minister in the Narendra Modi government but resigned in 2020 over the now-repealed three farm laws.

Recently, Sukhbir Badal’s daughter and son also campaigned for their father in Jalalabad, which evoked a sharp reaction not only from his rivals but voters too. While AAP candidate Jagdeep Kamboj raised allegations of ‘dynasty politics’ in his speeches, voters say, “Our children are unemployed. A third general of Badals is here to rule us.”

Kirtan Singh, a truck driver from Sultanwind in Amritsar, also took a dig at the Badals and said, “They have bahumat (majority) in the SAD, what else can one expect from them? SAD is no more a party of principles rather an apt example of dynasty rule. This is why it was reduced to third position in 2017. But they have not learnt any lesson.”

“If Bikram Majithia had decided to contest from Amritsar East, he could have fielded a party worker from Majitha. But his wife was chosen instead,” said Amrik Singh, a farmer from Dhilwan in Kapurthala district.

Another elderly man, Karamjit Singh from Nawanshahr Grain market, said, “The SAD has become the ‘Jagir’ of Badals, which is an injustice to the glorious past of the Akalis. They should understand that this is one of the reasons why many SAD veterans have left the party in the past few years.”

Former SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, now the leader of SAD (Sanyukt) that is contesting elections in an alliance with the BJP and Amarinder’s Punjab Lok Congress, has also attacked the Badals. During Prime Minister Modi’s rally in Jalandhar on February 14, Dhindsa said in his address, “The SAD is confined to ‘Badal-Akali Dal’. They are campaigning with money amassed through illegal means.”

In 2019, Dhindsa had called for the SAD to be “liberated” from the control of the Badal family. He and several other veteran leaders had quit the party at that time.

It is pertinent to mention here that the SAD still carries the baggage of the 2015 sacrilege incidents and Behbal Kalan firing case, increase in the drug trade, and allegations of mafia involvement in sand mining and transport. These issues weighed on the party in the 2017 assembly elections, when it won just 15 seats. It is trying to reinvigorate itself.

‘People’s trust’

In an interview with BBC Punjabi, Sukhbir Singh Badal responded to these allegations by saying, “It is the people who decide who to elect. If this is such an issue, then why did people make Parkash Singh Badal CM five times? It is trust.”

Reacting to allegations of dynasty politics, the SAD candidate from Adampur in Jalandhar district Pawan Kumar Tinu said, “Every movement or political party revolves around a particular face. Even BSP’s politics was confined to Kanshi Ram. Similarly, Parkash Singh Badal has made immense contributions to Punjab’s development and the SAD. People made him CM for a record five times and believe in SAD.”

However, on Bikram Majithia’s wife stepping in poll fray, Tinu said, “Bikram’s wife Ganieve Kaur is contesting due to compulsion. As Navjot Singh Sidhu had challenged Bikram Majithia to contest from Amritsar East seat, she was fielded. There is nothing wrong with it.”

Former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is contesting from the Bholath seat of Kapurthala district defended the Badal family and said, “The Badal family is important not just for the SAD but for Punjab too. People have faith in them. Since Sidhu is challenging the SAD leadership, they had to step in. In fact, nobody else other than Parkash Singh Badal can run Punjab.”

The SAD candidate from the Khemkaran seat on the Indo-Pak border, Virsa Singh Valtoha also supported the Badals and said, “Candidates are fielded on winnability. When Sidhu challenged Bikram Majithia, he decided to take him head on. Even my entire family is campaigning for me. Now, Badal’s third generation is also ready. There is nothing wrong. It is their responsibility to perform. Let’s not forget that ultimately you get votes by seeking them.”

Bahujan Samajwadi Party president Mayawati during an election rally in Lucknow, February 16, 2022. Photo: PTI/ Nand Kumar

Image reinforced, say analysts

Talking to The Wire, Chandigarh-based journalist and author Jagtar Singh said that with the entire Badal family contesting, the perception of SAD being synonymous with the Badals has been reinforced.

“A party with a glorious history has become synonymous with Badals. It used to be a panthic (dedicated to Sikh affairs) party but not anymore. The fact that it is a family-run party cannot be overlooked,” he said.

The journalist said the outcome of these polls will decide the future of Akalis. “In case the SAD fails to come to power, the Badal family’s control will be questioned. Though the party will continue, it will certainly lead to leadership change. On the other hand, if they win, the family’s hold will continue,” he added.

It is also important to note that the SAD is contesting elections without the BJP’s support. The alliance garnered both Sikh and Hindu votes but now the SAD will have to prove that they enjoy the support of Hindu voters – many of whom are traders or involved in business activities.

By allying with the BSP, the party hopes to make inroads among Dalit communities in Punjab, particularly in the Doaba region. The SAD-BSP will hope for a repeat of the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, when the alliance won 11 of the state’s 13 parliamentary seats.

Punjab Polls: Is Ex-AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi Moving Towards Congress?

The “people’s doctor” has been a staunch critic of the Congress for many years. His decision to campaign for Channi and Sidhu has raised many eyebrows.

Jalandhar: Dharamvira Gandhi, the former Patiala MP from the Aam Admi Party (AAP), is back in political discourse. He has supported several Congress candidates, which he termed as ‘selective’ and an attempt to prevent the BJP-RSS and AAP from coming to power in Punjab.

Dharamvira has already supported six candidates of the farmers’ political outfit Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM), first campaigned for chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi at Bhadaur seat and then Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu at Amritsar East constituency. He is supporting 12 candidates, six each of SSM and the Congress.

Popularly known as the “people’s doctor”, for giving a personal touch to his patients, the ex-AAP MP’s move surprised many, particularly his opponents. He has remained a vocal critic of the Congress all these years.

An alumnus of the Government Medical College in Amritsar, Dharamvira was a member of the Punjab Student Union when he took part in protests against the Congress for imposing emergency in 1975. He was jailed for two months.

On his last name ‘Gandhi’, the ex-MP said, “In my college days, I was known for raising voice on issues of concern. This gave me the suffix ‘Gandhi’. Later I also chose this as my last name.”

He said there is no record of his last name, nor of his brothers. “While my name in documents is Dharamvir Bulla (named after Bulle Shah), my brother’s name is Harvir Nanak (a tribute to Guru Nanak Dev) and the third brother’s name is Yashvir Kabir (for Sant Kabir),” he said.

Dharamvira Gandhi won from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 polls, when AAP won four of the 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab. He had defeated Congress candidate Preneet Kaur, Amarinder Singh’s wife. But then came a period of internal bickering, after which he was suspended from AAP.

Given this background, there is one question on everyone’s mind: why is Dharamvira moving towards the Congress? Justifying his decision, the sacked AAP leader said that all “pro-Punjab forces” should unite for the assembly elections to not just “save Punjab” but “strengthen democracy” ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Talking to The Wire, Dharamvira said that while Channi has asked for his support in Bhadaur, he volunteered to campaign for Sidhu because he admires his honesty and determination.

Navjot Singh Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi. In the background are Congress supporters holding aloft the party flag. Photos: Twitter and File. Illustration: The Wire

“The entire mafia was trying to finish Sidhu politically. I took it as a moral responsibility to support him. He may have some shortcomings but he is honest and has an agenda for Punjab,” he said.

He added, “While Sidhu wants peace with Pakistan to boost cross-border trade ties, the BJP and AAP have been raising anti-Pakistan sentiments. Trade will help traders and farmers and boost Punjab’s economy.”

During his campaign for Sidhu in the Amritsar East constituency, Dharamvira held a press conference urging people to ensure a decisive win for him against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Bikram Singh Majithia.

Dharamvira said, “The outcome of the assembly election sin Punjab will lay the foundation for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Outsiders like BJP-RSS, AAP or the SAD, which looted Punjab through drugs, liquor and sand mining, should not get a chance to rule Punjab. I am supporting Sidhu and his Punjab agenda.”

However, when asked about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on CM Channi’s nephew, Gandhi said, “My support to Congress and its candidates is selective.”

Notably, he has also supported other Congress candidates like Olympian Pargat Singh (Jalandhar Cantonment) and Sukhpal Singh Khaira (Bholath seat in Kapurthala district).

Dharamvira lauds Rahul Gandhi

Apart from his support for Congress candidates, the ex-AAP MP also lauded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent speech in parliament. He said, “Have you heard Rahul Gandhi’s speech? It was wonderful. He emphasised India as a Union of States and not as a kingdom. Rahul is reinventing himself.”

He added that after a period of turbulence, a new Congress is taking shape. He said he would like to discuss issues like federalism, the concurrent list being eroded, rights of minorities with the party.

On the opposition’s claims that he is making these moves because he is eyeing the Patiala seat for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Dharamvira said, “I am 72 years old. I have had a rich life as a doctor serving my people. I have not joined the Congress nor do I have the intention of contesting polls.”

Dharamvira shared an article with The Wire, in which he wrote: “The fate of the Congress party, however is not my concern. The fate of Indian democracy is. Or, more accurately perhaps, the congress party is my concern only to the extent that it matters for the fate of Indian democracy.”

In the article, Dharamvira argued that it is often said that the threat to democracy comes from communal-majoritarian politics and authoritarian leaders. “Undoubtedly there is truth in this statement. It is often said that the threat is aggravated due to a weak and divided opposition. That too is a reality. But all these are surface phenomena. The real threat arises out of deeper political realities”, he wrote.

“There have been instances in modern history – some very famous ones as in Germany of 1930s – when democracies have committed suicides. India is passing through such a phase,” he emphasised in his write up.

Lashes out at BJP and AAP

Lashing out at the BJP, Dharamvira said that the saffron party was out to change the idea of India. He said the “colossal corruption” under the BJP was no match to that under the Congress. “The BJP is unashamedly selling all the assets of the country. From public enterprises, IITs, Indian Railways, airports, government institutions, everything is being sold off. Interestingly, demonetisation has made BJP the richest party in the country. It is forcibly imposing its agenda of Hindu Rashtra through an authoritarian regime. It is important to raise your voice against them,” he said.

Gandhi said as a doctor and a scientific person, he wants to strive for a pluralistic and democratic country. “If Modi comes to power in 2024, we may not be able to redeem the country,” he added.

He also criticised AAP’s politics as soft Hindutva. He pointed to Arvind Kejriwal’s support to the dilution of Article 370 and silence over the rights of Kashmiris, the CAA-NRC issue as examples, claiming that AAP and BJP are “hand in glove”.

Channi Is Congress’s Punjab CM Candidate, Announces Rahul Gandhi

The announcement ends weeks of posturing by Charanjit Singh Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu.

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday declared that Charanjit Singh Channi is the party’s chief ministerial candidate for Punjab’s assembly polls.

Party leader Rahul Gandhi made this announcement while addressing a virtual rally in Ludhiana, settling weeks of posturing by Channi and state unit president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

“People of Punjab said we need a CM from gareeb ghar (poor family),” said Gandhi.

The party had taken feedback from its leaders and workers, and had also sought the opinion of the public on who should be its chief ministerial candidate through an automated call system.

Punjab will vote on February 20, while the results will be announced on March 10 – along with those in four other states. The Congress is hoping to retain power in the state.

At the rally, Gandhi lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is function not as an elected representative but a “king”.

Earlier in the day, Sidhu said he has no aspirations for any post and said he would abide by any decision that the party takes.

“We don’t need anything, we only need Punjab’s welfare. My love for Punjab always wanted its betterment,” he said.

Channi became the chief minister in September last year, after Amarinder Singh’s resignation. He is a three-time MLA from Chamkaur Sahib and is from the Dalit community.

(With PTI inputs)

Punjab: In Channi’s Constituency, Rivals Target Him Over Illegal Mining, Poor Education

Channi has denied all the charges levelled against, and experts believe they are unlikely to hurt his image.

Chandigarh: From a hotbed of protests to raids by rivals, Chamkaur Sahib in Punjab’s Ropar district is in the eye of the storm ever since its MLA, Charanjit Singh Channi, replaced Amarinder Singh as Punjab chief minister last September.

The Enforcement Directorate raid on properties owned by Channi’s nephew, Bhupinder Singh Honey, is the latest in a string of activities that made this constituency the centre of debates around illegal mining ahead of the February 20 polls.

Soon after the raid, the Shiromani Akali Dal launched a scathing attack on Channi, alleging that he was the one “patronising” illegal sand mining in his constituency, and demanded a CBI probe into it.

Leading the charge, SAD’s Bikram Singh Majithia, who was recently booked by the Channi government for drug trafficking, even released purported CCTV footage of Channi’s aids and nephew moving with a security detail in a car sporting an ‘MLA’ sticker at an illegal mining site.

In a statement, Channi denied the charges as baseless, frivolous and politically motivated.

Earlier, AAP’s Raghav Chadha and Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia visited a mining site and government schools here, claiming that the constituency was suffering because of the mining mafia and poor education facilities.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and the party’s chief ministerial face, Bhagwant Mann, too visited a village in Chamkaur Sahib recently and assured people that they would build better schools.

Kejriwal’s latest claim, five days ago, was that Channi was badly losing in Chamkaur Sahib.

But Channi appears unhurt. He has carefully crafted his pro-poor image during his 111-day stint as Punjab’s first Dalit chief minister. Several of his cabinet ministers are backing him as the party’s chief ministerial candidate.

Chamkaur Sahib is among 34 reserved constituencies that the Congress wants Channi to ensure wins from. In the 2017 elections, Congress won 21 of them.

Phenomenal rise

Chamkaur Sahib has remained an Akali stronghold for over three decades, before Channi broke the citadel in 2007 when he won here as an independent candidate.

Since then he has no looking back. He was made Congress’s leader of opposition just after he won the constituency again for the second time.

Later, he became a cabinet minister in Amarinder’s government after winning Chamkaur Sahib for the third time in a row in the last polls.

Also read: With AAP’s CM Face Contesting From Dhuri, the Quaint Punjab Town Is Thrust into Limelight

As a politician, Channi had his few eccentricities. In 2016, he was subject to trolling when SAD president Sukhbir Badal, then deputy chief minister, asked Channi in the assembly session to list the achievements of the previous Congress government. His response – that there was major work on all the roads of Punjab under Congress rule – went viral.

His elephant ride in 2018 that he did in order to further his political career further became a subject of political amusement.

He once decided a transfer case in his constituency by flipping a coin.

Even after he was picked as Amarinder’s replacement, many saw Channi a mere ‘night watchman’, a cricketing term used for a player sent to save the wicket of regular batsman. But he turned out to be a fine opening batsman, and gained much strength and support both within the party and outside.

He gained political stature from the way he confronted the BJP after allegations of a ‘security breach’ made Modi abort his rally in Punjab earlier this month.

The latest ED raid on his nephew may have hit his image, but he is still very much part of the party’s election plan. He is main reason why the Congress decided to fight the Punjab elections under collective leadership, even ignoring Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu’s claim for the top post.

Flurry of activities in past three months

Locals say that Channi’s elevation as chief minister sped up the pace of development work in and around Chamkaur Sahib.

A local journalist, Iqbal Singh Bali, told The Wire that ever since he has become chief minister, he has distributed large grants to most of villages in the constituency.

He even laid foundation stones to upgrade government hospitals both in Chamkaur Sahib and Morinda, two major towns in the constituency. He started a project to link the constituency with Punjab’s Doaba region via a bridge over the Sutlej river. “But most of these works are at a developing stage, so it will take some time to get them executed,” Bali said.

Also read: Punjab Polls: What’s at Stake As Parties Woo the Young With Promises of Foreign Education?

The AAP nominee, also Channi’s namesake, Dr Charanjit Singh, an eye surgeon, calls the new announcements a sham. “In his 111 days as CM, Channi merely proved to be an ellan mantri,” he said in a media interview.

“He made as many as 88 announcements in a period of just 10 days. But most of his announcements did not see the light of the day on the ground,” said the AAP candidate, who lost to Channi in 2017 by 12,000 votes.

He said Channi has been representing Chamkaur Sahib for the last 15 years, but the condition of government schools and hospitals is pitiable.

Singh added, “Channi’s so-called development claims were exposed when our party’s deputy chief minister from Delhi, Manish Sisodia, visited government schools in Chamkaur Sahib. One of the schools in Chaklan village was full of cobwebs and filthy washrooms, broken furniture and no proper arrangement for drinking water.”

He further added that in 2017, Channi circulated a charter of 21 promises. Except one, all other promises are pending, Singh claimed. “He (Channi) was cabinet minister for almost four and half years and then CM for three months. He could have improved done a lot of things. But except minting money out of illegal mining, he did nothing.”

Harmohan Singh Sandhu is the SAD-BSP nominee from the constituency and is said to be giving a tough fight. He recently joined politics after serving as an additional inspector general in the Punjab Police, and is the son of former cabinet minister Satwant Kaur who represented Chamkaur Sahib as many as five times. She died of COVID-19 last year. Sandhu is trying to capitalise on her mother’s past ties in this constituency.

Sandhu is also slamming Channi for “ignoring the constituency” ever since he became MLA. He recently claimed only Channi’s family and kin have flourished.

With AAP’s CM Face Contesting From Dhuri, the Quaint Punjab Town Is Thrust into Limelight

In Bhagwant Mann’s electoral victories in the 2014 and 2019 parliamentary elections, he secured substantial leads in the Dhuri segment. No doubt this influenced AAP’s decision to field him from this constituency in the upcoming assembly polls.

Chandigarh: Dhuri, a sleepy town in Punjab’s Sangrur district, has become the star of the upcoming assembly polls in the state after the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann entered the fray from there.

In the previous polls, the seats of Patiala and Lambi – from where former chief ministers Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal had contested respectively – were the usual hot seats. However, with Mann’s entry, the hitherto politically alienated Dhuri (no MLA from this constituency has ever been made a minister in any government) has stepped into the limelight.

Mann officially kicked off his party’s campaign trail from his new constituency on Sunday, January 23, where he was welcomed by a huge crowd of people who put garlands across his neck as his cavalcade passed through several parts of Dhuri.

“It is not my election, it’s yours,” Mann said to the crowd swelling around his vehicle. Then, standing on the bonnet of his car, he told the crowd: “Politicians in Punjab made castles, bought expensive cars, earned crores in the sand and liquor mafias. The time has come to pack them home.”

Mann, who was a satirist before he entered politics, cheered his crowd on, saying, “Hakoomat vo karata hai jinke dilon pe raaj hota hai. Kahne ko to murge ke sar pe bhi taaj hota hai (The real ruler is the one who wins the hearts of the people. Otherwise, even a chicken can have crown on its head.)

Dhuri is among the nine assembly segments within the Sangrur parliamentary constituency which Mann has been representing as Member of Parliament (MP) since 2014.

In the 2014 and 2019 parliamentary elections, Mann had secured leads of 34,000 and 24,000 votes respectively from the Dhuri segment; a fact which, no doubt weighed heavily on the AAP’s decision to field him from there since they considered it a ‘safe’ seat for him. Moreover, Mann has local connections here. Dhuri is not far from Satoj village, where Mann was born.

In the 2017 assembly polls in the state, Mann had contested unsuccessfully from Jalalabad in the Fazilka district against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) heavyweight Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Mann’s candidature from Dhuri, meanwhile, has upset local party leader Ashok Kumar Lakha, who was expecting a ticket from here. However, Mann even went to Lakha’s home to pacify him.

Watch: Will AAP Be Able to Form a Government in Punjab? A Conversation With Sanjay Singh

AAP lost Dhuri to Congress in 2017

In the last assembly polls, AAP candidate Jasvir Singh Jassi Sekhon lost the Dhuri seat to Congress first-timer, student leader Dalvir Singh Goldy, by the narrow margin of 2,800 votes (2%).

AAP’s Sangrur district president Gurmail Singh told The Wire that with the kind of overwhelming response Mann got on his first visit, there is no doubt that the party would win the Dhuri seat by a heavy margin of 50,000 votes, or even higher.

All party leaders in region, be it 2017 candidate Sekhon or local party leader Lakha, are working passionately behind Mann. “Not only this, Mann’s candidature from Dhuri will boost the party’s chances in the entire Malwa region,” said Gurmail.

Malwa is Punjab’s biggest region in the polls, accounting for 69 (58%) of the total 117 assembly segments.

In its debut election in 2017, AAP had managed to break into the SAD’s traditional rural vote bank in Malwa, winning 18 seats. However, from Punjab’s Doaba (which has 25 seats) and Majha (which has 23) regions, the party managed to win only two seats.

Reacting to AAP’s prediction of an unprecedented victory to come, Goldy, the present Congress MLA from Dhuri told The Wire, “Only the result will tell who wins with 50,000 votes or more.” He further said that he is confident of a win again because of his work in the constituency over the last five years.

However, in his speech on Sunday, Mann alleged that Goldy had a share in the toll plazas. Even the interlock tiles which Goldy claimed to have laid down in cities and villages came from his own factory, which he set up after becoming an MLA, Mann further alleged.

“Look at me. I had the same vehicle when I came to Dhuri for canvassing in 2014, 2017 and then 2019 while he (Goldy) made hay in sunshine,” Mann claimed.

Goldy, on the other hand, dismissed Mann’s allegations in an interview for Punjabi portal Pro Punjab TV and even alleged that Mann had ignored Dhuri despite representing the constituency twice as MP. He even challenged Mann to a debate.

On Saturday, Goldy’s wife Simrat Kaur Khangura was met with protests from farmers in the Balian village in the Dhuri constituency while she was out campaigning for her husband. The villagers, holding BKU Dakaunda flags, stopped Khangura, saying that SAD and Congress candidates would not be allowed to enter their village.

Subsequently, Khangura, in a Facebook Live video, alleged that the men holding the farmers’ union flags were actually AAP supporters.

Also read: Punjab: Congress Plays Safe, Repeats 60 Sitting MLAs in First List of 86 Candidates

Residents say key issues remain unsolved

As this high voltage fight takes place, the people of Dhuri say they are disappointed that several key issues have lingered for years and that no one has addressed them.

Dr Ranjeet Singh Bhullar, a local medical professional, told The Wire that Dhuri has been the major railway junction for a long time. Due to this, a major railway crossing goes within the city and for the last 20 years, residents have been demanding a railway underbridge, since there are often long traffic jams at the crossing. However, no one was addressed this problem, he said.

Bhullar further said there is no proper bus stand in the city and that people are forced to board buses from a small stoppage point.

Bhullar also said that medical facilities in Dhuri are poor. “The local civil hospital lacks doctors. The diagnostic facilities are also poor. Dhuri residents travel 17 km to Sangrur for a CT-scan or ultrasound. There is also no specialist to handle accident or head injury cases. The patients are taken to Ludhiana, over 60 km from here,” said Bhullar.

Gurpreet Singh Batth, who runs local NGO Parivartan, told The Wire that Dhuri is in need of a library for students preparing for competitive exams. Presently, they either shift their base to Patiala or Chandigarh while preparing.

“Another major problem in Dhuri is waterlogging. The local MLA claimed to lay new sewage lines, but the problem remains unsolved,” he said.

The Wire talked to a few more locals, including a teacher who feels that Dhuri, unlike Sangrur, has remained politically irrelevant because it has never had a minister in any government. With Mann, AAP’s CM face, contesting from here, they hope the town would be given some prominence, should he emerge victorious.

“It was therefore not surprising when people came out of their shops and homes to see Mann when he came here to campaign on Sunday,” said a government teacher, not wishing to be named. He said that no politician earlier had touched upon the issue of Punjab’s youth settling abroad or plunging into drugs. “People have high hopes from Mann to address the perennial issues of Punjab as well as this city,” he said.

AAP leaders are looking for a rented accommodation for Mann in Dhuri. Gurmail told The Wire that earlier, Mann had a base in Sangrur but he will shift to Dhuri soon.

Meanwhile, vote turnout in Dhuri has been impressive. In the 2017 assembly polls, 81% of the total electorate came out to vote. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls too, vote polling was impressive at 76%.

With Mann in the race, the vote percentage may go even higher.

In Dhuri, the main fight is said to be between AAP and the Congress, even as the SAD has given a ticket to former Sangrur MLA Parkash Chand Garg.

The constituency is a mixture of both urban and rural segments, housing 80 villages besides a large city area.

As AAP Celebrates Phone Campaign to Choose CM Face, Other Parties Raise Questions

Opposition leaders are questioning the veracity of 21,59,437 lakh phone calls for a poll through which Mann was reportedly selected.

Jalandhar: A week after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann would be the party’s chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, opposition leaders are questioning the veracity of 21,59,437 lakh phone calls for a poll through which Mann was reportedly selected.

On January 13, AAP had asked the people of Punjab to call, WhatsApp or SMS a number to choose a person of their choice as AAP’s chief ministerial candidate, calling it the ‘Janta chunegi apna CM’ drive. Then on January 18, Kejriwal named Mann as the chosen candidate. AAP had also claimed that 93.3% of the people who put in their preference had supported Mann.

Raising questions over AAP’s poll, Himanshu Pathak, who is associated with the Congress, released a video titled ‘AAP ka CM Scam’ and said, “AAP’s claim that they received 21 lakh calls from the public to decide the chief ministerial candidate is out and out propaganda. It was an attempt by AAP to create a perception among people that they were getting thumping support in Punjab. They used the phone call system as a tool to fool the people of Punjab.”

In the video, Pathak was saying that AAP has committed fraud against the people of Punjab, as the mobile number released for the poll – 7074870748 – was not a commercial number but a private one. “It is impossible to receive 21 lakh phone calls, seven lakh WhatsApp messages, voice mails and SMSs in four days on a private number. We have also learnt that the phone number was registered in the name of AAP Punjab co-incharge Raghav Chadha,” he said.

Pathak was one of the founding members of AAP and also served as the party’s state IT Cell head before joining the Congress in 2017. He pointed out that in order to receive 21 lakh responses, AAP would have received at least 5.25 lakh responses every day. “Even if AAP leaders kept receiving phone calls, WhatsApp messages, SMSes and voice mails throughout the day and night, they would have spent at least 15 seconds on each message. Going by this calculation, they should have merely received 5,760 messages per day, which makes 23,040 messages in four days,” he said in the video.

Also read: Punjab Polls: What’s at Stake As Parties Woo the Young With Promises of Foreign Education?

On AAP’s claim that they received seven lakh WhatsApp messages, Pathak said that this comes to 1.75 lakh messages every day. “It would have taken them a year to read bulk messages and around 50 computers with staff to complete the drive. AAP should explain what was the cost of this phone call drive and where this set up working,” he said.

Talking to The Wire, Pathak said, “The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has fixed the per day limit of sending SMS to 200 messages on normal numbers. How could AAP receive bulk messages? Had this been a commercial or toll-free number, then these phone calls were possible. The commercial numbers give options like dial 1,2,3 to callers to register their response.” The limit Pathak referred to, however, is applicable on outgoing messages, not incoming.

He demanded that the Election Commission of India should take cognisance of AAP’s “propaganda”, as the model code of conduct was in place in the state. “Arvind Kejriwal should prove the phone call drive data, else he has no integrity to stay in Punjab,” he added.

Even the former AAP MP from Patiala, Dharamvir Gandhi, who is supporting the farmers’ political body Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM), termed AAP’s phone-in drive to select the chief minister candidate as “hype”.

Gandhi said that AAP’s drive was not genuine. “Arvind Kejriwal is an event manager and a theatrical politician. AAP’s claim that they received 21 lakh phone calls to select Bhagwant Mann as the chief ministerial candidate is a matter of investigation. Some technically trained agency should bring out the truth,” he said.

The ex-AAP MP said the fact is that AAP merely received some 7,000 calls and messages. “All their claims are as fake as their level of politics. We have also learnt that the phone number was that of Raghav Chadha. Social media is flooded with messages questioning AAP’s televote drive,” he said.

These days, Gandhi is leading a campaign against AAP in Punjab’s Malwa region, where the party enjoys a stronghold and has won 18 seats out of their total tally of 20 in the 2017 assembly polls. “Kejriwal is insulting Punjab by making illogical statements every day. I am reaching out to voters and asking them not to vote for AAP, which is obliquely following the Hindutva agenda. Bhagwant Mann is a stooge of Kejriwal’s and Kejriwal in turn is a stooge of the BJP-RSS. Punjab is a rich and civilised state, and people should not fall in this new danger of Hindutva politics and fake nationalism,” he added.

None of the AAP legislators were able to share details about the phone-in drive to select the chief ministerial candidate. However, they accused the Congress, SAD-BSP, BJP and alliance partners of indulging in petty politics, as AAP was all set to form the next government in Punjab.

While Raghav Chadha was not available for comments, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Harpal Singh Cheema, said that such a response was expected from the opposition camp, as they were jittery over AAP’s rising graph in the state.

“We involved people in the televote and ran the drive legally. One week’s time was given to people to reach out to us through the phone number and the response was enormous. Arvind Kejriwal shared the details in his address. Bhagwant Mann is a man of the masses and people wholeheartedly supported him,” Cheema said.

However, when asked about the technical details of the phone-in drive, Cheema said that he is not aware of them.

Also read: From Parody to Politics: The Journey of Bhagwant Mann, AAP’s CM Face in Punjab

AAP’s deputy leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, also denied knowing any technical details about the phone-in drive and the people who worked for this campaign. But she said, “Not just people of Punjab but even the NRIs called us to declare support for Bhagwant Mann. Our phone-in campaign data is evident. The opposition is issuing statements for the heck of it.”

Reacting against the opposition’s allegations, AAP Punjab spokesperson Neel Garg said this was expected of them. “Our party’s phone-in drive to select the chief ministerial face was through technology-driven and internet-based calls. The opposition should explain how AAP’s graph started soaring within a week, if people did not call on our phone number to declare support for Bhagwant Mann? Moreover, the opposition leaders should know that these days, all calls are automated. Through computer-driven technology, the calls get automatically recorded. Rather, we received five lakh calls on day one itself, which shows people’s response,” he added.

When asked again if the phone number was private or commercial, Garg said, “I am not aware about this but these allegations are baseless.”

AAP MLA from Sunam, Aman Arora, also said that he has no idea about questions being raised on the phone calls or any video released on this issue. “I cannot comment on this, as it is a technical matter. But I do know that the phone number mentioned for the phone call was not that of Raghav Chadha. Raghav has been using only one phone number for the past five to six years,” he said.

Arora said the fact is that Congress, SAD-BSP and BJP have nothing to say against AAP. “They had resorted to malicious campaigns against us during the 2017 assembly polls too. Even now, after five years, they are back to old tactics. This is ridiculous,” he added.

Earlier, an AAP worker from Jalandhar, Balwant Singh, said that this is not the first time that AAP has used a phone number to register voter’s support. “We have also released a phone number 9115115599 for voters to register themselves for the Rs 1000 scheme for women above 18 years of age and free power supply. The opposition is targeting us over an imaginary claim,” he said.

Watch | Will AAP Be Able to Form a Government in Punjab? A Conversation With Sanjay Singh

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh speaks with The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani about the party’s strategy in UP and Punjab.

Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7, while elections in Punjab will now be held on February 20. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state-in-charge for Uttar Pradesh and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh speaks with The Wire‘s Arfa Khanum Sherwani about the party’s strategy in these two states. Does he feel confident about the party’s ability to form a government in Punjab? What role can it play in UP? Watch the video to find out.

EC Postpones Punjab Polls to February 20 After Requests From CM, Others

Charanjit Singh Channi said that lakhs of devotees from the SC community will visit Benaras to celebrate Sri Guru Ravidass Jayanti on February 16 and thus will not be able to cast their vote.

Jalandhar: Following Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to postpone the Punjab assembly elections scheduled for February 14, 2022 by six days, in view of Guru Ravidass Jayanti which falls on February 16, the ECI has said the elections will now be held on February 20.

The ECI met to discuss the matter on Monday morning. The Punjab polls will now coincide with the third phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh.

Channi made his request keeping in mind the interests of Punjab’s Dalit population, who visit Seer Govardhanpur, the birth place of Sri Guru Ravidass, every year to pay obeisance on his birth anniversary. Punjab has the highest population of Dalits in the country. They constitute about 38% of the total population of Punjab.

In his letter to chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra, which The Wire has seen, Channi mentioned that on this occasion a large number of Scheduled Caste (SC) devotees (around 20 lakh) from Punjab are likely to visit Benaras in Uttar Pradesh from February 10 to 16.

The chief minister wrote that in such a situation, many people from this community would not be able to cast their votes, which is otherwise their constitutional right. “They (SC community) have requested that the voting date may be extended in such a way that they are able to visit Benaras from February 10th to 16th as also participate in the Assembly elections,” he said.

“It is considered fair and appropriate that the voting for Punjab Assembly Elections 2022 may be postponed for at least six days, enabling about 20 lakh people to utilise their right to vote for the State Legislative Assembly,” Channi continued.

Also read: In Punjab, AAP Asks People for a Chief Minister, But Will That Be Enough to Win?

Earlier, the Sri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Public Charitable Trust being run from Dera Sachkhand in village Ballan of Jalandhar wrote a letter to the ECI, requesting a postponement.

Dera head Sant Niranjan Dass also held a meeting in this regard and demanded that either elections should be held before February 10th or after February 20. He had also requested the devotees to send their requests to the ECI and avoid holding protests against any political party on this issue in the state.

General secretary of the trust Sat Paul Virdi said, “It is the constitutional right of every citizen to exercise the right to vote. If the election is held on February 14 as per schedule, it will result in denial of such right to a large number of persons which is against the letter and spirit of the constitution. We request the ECI to postpone elections in Punjab after February 18 or prepone the election before February 13, 2022.”

Notably, devotees attend birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Ravidass at Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi every year. It is held under the aegis of Sant Niranjan Dass, the head of Dera Sachkhand, Ballan and who is also the chairman of Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Public Charitable Trust, Varanasi.

Balwant Singh, a resident of Jalandhar, whose family has been visiting Seer Govardhanpur, said, “Dalits have made a valid demand and the ECI should address their concern. If the election date is changed well in time, devotees will be able to visit Benaras and also cast their vote. The Punjab assembly election should be held either before February 14 or after February 16.”

Also read: As Politics Heats Up in Punjab, Will Issues of Farm Labourers Ever Get Attention?

D.C. Bhatia, also a resident of Jalandhar and a member of the Sri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Public Charitable Trust, said, “Devotees will start leaving for Benaras in UP from February 8 onwards for the much-awaited birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass. Also, Begumpura Express, the direct train from Jammu to Varanasi ferrying devotees, has already been booked departing from February 13 and returning on February 18, 2022. If the election date is not changed, it would directly affect polling and election result of all political parties.”

Bhatia said that as per an estimate, approximately 2.5 lakh people from the Doaba region alone will be going to Benaras. “On Guru Ravidass Jayanti, every year around four to five lakh people visit Seer Govardhanpur. In view of these facts, ECI should change the polling date, so that everybody is able to cast their vote,” he added.

Earlier, renowned Punjabi singer and North West Delhi MP from BJP Hans Raj Hans had also written a letter to ECI in this regard. BSP’s Punjab chief Jasvir Singh Garhi had also demanded a change in polling date.

Note: This article was first published at 10:15 AM on January 17 and republished at 2:35 PM in view of the election date being postponed.

Interview | PM Modi Did Not Face Any Threat to His Life in Punjab: Navjot Singh Sidhu

In a chat with Arfa Khanum Sherwani, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president also rubbished reports of a rift between him and Charanjit Singh Channi as “rumours”.

In an interview with The Wire, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Navjyot Singh Sidhu discussed a range of issues related to the state’s upcoming assembly elections, the political undercurrents in the state, the alleged ‘threat’ that Narendra Modi faced in Punjab and the reported rift between him and chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

He was questioned about announcing his own ‘model’ for the state, even before the Congress manifesto was launched. His act also was seen by some political observers as an attempt to sideline Channi. In response, he said that the real issues of the people are being sidelined in the state. He added, “The issue for us is that Punjab is currently in debt. We are facing an enormous debt of over Rs 5 lakh crore. The rich are paying only Rs 220 crore in tax while the poor and the middle classes pay 99% of the tax, which is a whopping Rs 51,000 crore. We want to take them out of this misery. This fight for us is a fight for our identities.”

Among Sidhu’s ideas are the proposal to establish a Punjab liquor corporation and a sand mining corporation, the state’s own cable regulation commission and a slew of other such bodies. These ideas received opposition from within the party.

Responding to the internal politics that rocked his party, he said that his stance over liquor, sand mining and controlling finances of the state have remained the same from the beginning. “I even sat home for a year because I did not agree with the policies. I wanted our liquor to be taxed and a crackdown on the sand mafia. Our MLAs showed that they had faith in me, they wanted me back. The same Amrinder Singh who had shown me the door is now sitting at home,” Sidhu said.

With some sections of the media describing Sidhu as a TV personality and former cricket commentator, rather than a non-serious politician, The Wire asked him what he felt about these descroptions.

In response, he said, “What needs to be proven is not worth the toss. There is no chance that someone who is a celebrity would continue to win the polls again and again.” He said a celebrity may win polls perhaps once or twice but not multiple times. “I have the power to say no and I don’t compromise. A celebrity may rake in votes the first time but the second time, people voted for my work the third time they voted for my character and the fourth and the fifth time they saw my commitment and my behaviour. I am the president of the PPCC. I don’t think that I need to prove anything,” he said.

Sidhu also said that three generations of Punjab have “suffered”: the first generation grappled with political instability and terrorism, the second suffered because of unprecedented drug abuse and the current generation suffers because it has no avenues and opportunities, fuelling the youth to “leave the state”.

While Channi was chosen to replace Amarinder Singh, the Congress party has not yet declared him as the chief ministerial candidate before the polls. With Channi proving to have mass appeal, The Wire asked Sidhu who is likely to be the chief minister after the polls. “The question is not who becomes the CM. The key question is who will take Punjab out of its miseries and the problems that face us. This is the question on every Punjabi’s mind today. This is not something which can be easily decided in the next two months. Our next five years are full of challenges.”

He also dismissed reports of a “rift” between him and Channi as “rumours” that are trying to “fool” voters.

Sidhu was also asked about the “security threat” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced in Punjab recently, forcing his visit to be cancelled. Sidhu stated that the prime minister’s actions were an attempt to “discredit” Punjab. “If the prime minister wanted, he could have just landed at the podium with a helicopter. What Modi did was a staged act to leave and protect himself because they had no audience. This move is intended towards polarising the voters.”

With the Aam Aadmi Party seemingly gravitating towards nationalism and security ahead of the polls, Sidhu was asked about his opinion on the challenge that the party poses to the Congress. Targeting Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal he said, “Why is Kejriwal showing this bravery in Punjab? What happened when riots broke out in Delhi? Why did he not speak of the tricolour then? Kejriwal has shown cowardice and nothing else.”