Indian diplomat-turned-politician among BJP nominees facing wrath of people in Punjab

1 month ago

By Hardeep Singh

Satluj News

AMRITSAR April 8, 2024 Four months after he faced wrath of Sikhs in a New York gurdwara in United States, where he was serving as Indian ambassador at that time, over the Indian conspiracies of assassinations of Sikh leaders abroad, Taranjit Singh Sandhu being candidate of the Hindu fascist party BJP for parliamentary elections are now facing protests by people of Punjab.

Being Indian envoy, Sandhu went to address the community at the Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island, in New York State, in November last year. When he began to leave the gurdwara, some Sikh youths started demonstrating against him accusing India of having killed Canadian pro-freedom leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and being part of a plot to kill another pro-freedom leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. 

After retirement, he joined the saffron party which is ruling on India. This party has fielded him to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections from Amritsar seat, a Sikh dominated segment, to woo the Sikh voters.

Despite being grandson of legendary Sikh leader and one of the founders of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Teja Singh Samundri, Sandhu opted to get into the fold of a political party which is known for “anti-minority” credential and working to declare Indian as “Hindu Rashtra” (Hindu nation) under the guidance of its parent body RSS. The Sikh community is hating his move to represent this party.

Disliking by the Sikhs has started becoming visible when Sandhu started poll campaign trial in rural area of Amritsar segment.

On April 6, he along with other party workers visited Ajnala area for taking out road show. However, the Sikhs, especially farmers, welcomed him with black flags. Sandhu faced fierce protests by the farmers on the way to Ajnala town. The farmers raised slogans against Sandhu and the BJP.

While demonstrating against him, the farmers accused the party of murdering farmers. They said hundreds of farmers had died during the agitation on the Delhi borders, but the government failed to fulfil promises made by it.

This left major embarrassment for Sandhu and the party which is claiming to have spread its base in Punjab by getting Sikh faces into its fold.

Owing to the wrath of people, Sandhu had to cancel some events in villages of Ajnala.

Earlier on Thursday, BJP candidate from Faridkot, singer Hans Raj Hans faced the ire of farmers during a road show organised by him. Many farmer unions have asked their supporters to not allow BJP leaders campaign in their villages.

Members of several farm unions commenced the anti-BJP campaign from villages of Amritsar. Posters barring entry of BJP leaders in villages, have been installed everywhere. The saffron party which is going solo in the elections, is facing a tough time in the state. Its government is running away from meeting demands of farmers agitation going on at Shambu and Khanauri borders. So far, security forces of India have committed a lot of excesses against the agitating farmers, injured several, murdered one at Shambu and Khanauri border.

@SatlujNetwork