Hardeep Singh 

CHANDIGARH Hindu extremist party BJP on Sunday invited harsh criticism in Punjab and Sikhs by inducting controversial politician and defeated party nominee from Ludhiana Ravneet Bittu in Narendra Modi cabinet 3.0.

Modi swore in as Prime Minister of India for third consecutive term. From Punjab, he chose Bittu who is grandson of the then CM Beant Singh, a perpetrator of massacre of Sikhs in Punjab, as one of the Minister of State (MoS).

A turncoat, Bittu switched from Congress to the saffron party before the parliamentary elections. However, he was defeated by Congress’ Amarinder Singh Raja Warring by  sizeable margin of votes.

Bittu is known for his hateful and controversial remarks about Punjab and Sikhs. Carrying forward the legacy of grandfather, who was perpetrator of the mass level extra-judicial killings in Punjab during armed Sikh struggle and assassinated by the Sikh militants in 1995, Bittu is advocate of oppression of Sikhs in Punjab. He often makes remarks against the struggling Sikhs.

Thus, by inducting him in the cabinet, the BJP has enraged the Sikhs and other people of Punjab, as he does not represent the state.  

“By inducting Ravneet Bittu into the council of ministers, BJP has hinted out at its intention and upcoming policy towards Punjab. Bittu is not only biological successor of killers of the Sikhs but also is successor of their mentality”, said Sikh thinker Ajay Pal Singh Brar.

The Sikh segments are opposing him for being chosen for the cabinet.