After the repeal of three contentious farm laws, the BJP is going all out to woo Sikh leaders in Punjab. A day after it poached Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the saffron party inducted two more leaders of its former ally, including former Punjab DGP S.S. Virk, considered to be close to former chief minister Amarinder Singh.
Virk, a Maharashtra cadre officer, had served in Punjab on deputation for most part of his career. He was awarded Padma Shri for his role in the anti-insurgency operations. Virk had suffered a bullet injury to his jaw during Operation Black Thunder in 1988.
When Amarinder Singh became chief minister in 2002, he picked up Virk to be the DGP. In 2007, Virk was booked in disproportionate assets case and was arrested during the Akali Dal regime. He was acquitted, and later became Maharashtra DGP.
After joining the BJP, Virk said he was here with his supporters to change the regime in Punjab. “If we can work hard, shed sweat and blood to change the system in Punjab, only then we are worthy to stay in BJP.”
Political activity is picking up in the border state as the contentious farmer laws have been withdrawn, and farmer unions are expected to take a call on continuing their agitation.
The BJP, which had announced that it will contest in all 117 seats in the state, is roping in leaders from its former ally to bring more Sikh faces to the party. Meanwhile, the party high command will soon take a call on teaming up with Amarinder Singh's new party.
Sirsa was the face of Akali Dal in Delhi. He was one of the richest candidates in the Delhi assembly elections. He was also the chief of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara management committee.
He had contested the Delhi assembly elections twice when BJP and Akali Dai had an alliance. During the second time, he contested on the BJP symbol and won from Rajouri Garden seat in the bypolls.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, who won the gurudwara elections in Delhi, made him chief of DSGMC (Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee). During the 2021 gurudwara elections, though Sirsa lost, he was made the panel chief. During the COVID-19 lockdown, DSGMC set up run langar (free community kitchen) for one lakh people. It ran free kitchens at the Delhi borders as the farmers were protesting against the agri laws. Sirsa was also very vocal on farmers’ issues. Recently, he was instrumental in getting a FIR registered against actor Kangna Ranaut for allegedly hurting Sikh sentiments.
Badal expressed his disappointment over Sirsa switching over to the saffron side and said the latter was pressurised to join the party.
Akali Dal suffered another setback when two its leaders—former MLA Sarabjit Singh Makkar, also a party general secretary, and Avtar Singh Zira—joined the BJP. Makkar was miffed over denial of a party ticket from Jalandar as Akali Dal had picked up another candidate.
“We are honoured to join BJP which is trusted world over. We had seen Atal Bihari Vajpayee era when he forged unity between Hindus and Sikhs. I was also part of farmers agitation. When PM Modi repealed laws, I decided to join the BJP. We are sure that the BJP will form government in the state,” Makkar said at the BJP head quarters in Punjab after joining the party in the presence of Union minister Gajendra Singh Chauhan, who is the party’s election in-charge for the state.
Avtar Singh Zira is the son of five-time Akali Dal MLA Hari Singh Zira. The senior Zira was upset after he was not made a minister in the previous Akali Dal government. Avatar Singh also wanted to contest elections from Zira constituency in Punjab, but was not sure of getting a ticket from Akali Dal.
Another prominent personality to join the BJP was industrialist Harcharan Singh Ranauta.
Punjabi Singer joins Congress
Meanwhile, popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala joined the Congress in the presence state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
Moosewala has a number of cases on him for eulogising gun culture and violence in his songs. In his latest song on farmers agitation, he had invoked Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
When Sidhu was the culture minister in Amarinder Singh cabinet, he had sought to bring a culture commission to control bawdy lyrics and censor songs eulogising guns and violence.
Moosewala is immensely popular in Punjab and Punjabi diaspora. His appeal among the youngsters in the state may boost the poll prospects of the Congress.
