Singer Hans Raj Hans joins BJP

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 10

Padma Shri Sufi singer and Valmiki leader Hans Raj Hans surprised everyone today by joining the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party’s national president Amit Shah and national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargia.

Hans had joined the Congress in February and his name was being considered by the party for Jagraon seat. Prior to it, he was with the Akali Dal. “I did not enjoy being in the Congress. I still have very high and warm regards for Capt Amarinder Singh, but no comments for the rest of the partymen. It is my ‘ghar wapsi’. The BJP and the SAD are one,” he said.

On why he joined BJP instead of Akali Dal, he said: “I have always been impressed with PM Modi’s humility. He is like a ‘faqir’, who has left his home for the betterment of humanity. I had gone to Gujarat when it was hit by a quake and helped him collect about Rs 15 crore for rehabilitation. When he visited Punjab as Gujarat CM, he had showered praises on me. We have an old association owing to which he asked his party leadership to make me join today.”

The first hint to his changing stance had come last month when he had surprised all by taking a deviating stand from the Congress on the SYL Canal issue and supporting the move of the SAD-BJP to de-notify the land. He went upto the extent of calling it a historical day in Punjab’s history. But he had then maintained that it was his personal view and should not be taken otherwise.

Hans had unsuccessfully contested on the SAD ticket from Jalandhar Parliamentary seat in 2009 after which he announced shunning politics for good. However, he became active again and revolted against the SAD when the candidature of Adampur MLA Pawan Tinu was announced.