From 'Kumbhakarna' to 'sinner', war of words hots up in Sirsa

The municipal elections in Sirsa have turned into a battleground, with politicians crossing the line in their speeches. The most intense rivalry is between the Kanda brothers and Congress MLA Gokul Setia. Recently, BJP leader Gobind Kanda, younger brother of former minister Gopal Kanda, called Setia a “sinner” and an “atheist.”

During a rally at Chhatar Garh Patti, Gobind Kanda asked the crowd if they had ever visited Tara Baba’s Kutia (a religious site). He then asked them whose house was in front of it. When the crowd responded “Gokul’s", he further questioned if anyone had seen the house open, parked their vehicle there, or drank water at the place. He then declared, “You gave your vote to such a sinner, such an atheist! Those who voted for him will also share his sins.”

Gobind Kanda claimed that the Kanda family was dedicated to social service and did not need politics for power. He also took a dig at Setia’s grandfather, the late Lachhman Das Arora, saying that despite ruling for 25 years and serving as an MLA and minister, he failed to build a dharamshala for his community.

In contrast, he boasted that his brother built Arorvansh and Aggarwal dharamshalas. He accused the current MLA of focusing more on social media than on development work.

Hitting back, Setia claimed that CM Nayab Saini had a good reputation, which was why he was called for the Sirsa elections. However, Setia compared the CM to a train engine, saying, “The engine is good, but the coaches of Sirsa are full of corruption.”

Speaking to journalists on the last day of the campaign, Setia criticised the Kanda brothers and defended Congress candidate Jaswinder Kaur against claims of being an "outsider". He said she had always lived with her mother in Sirsa and countered that those calling her an outsider themselves spent most of their time in Goa. He alleged that one of his opponents had already booked a ticket to Goa for March 3, a day after the elections.

Setia also targeted Congress leader Rajan Mehta, who had called him arrogant. He accused Mehta of secretly supporting a rival candidate in the Assembly elections and remaining inactive for three months, like “Kumbhakarna”.

Regarding the BJP’s campaign strategy, Setia questioned why Cabinet ministers were visiting Sirsa only for elections, when they had ignored the suffering of people before. He argued that while BJP leaders might leave after the elections, his family would always stay with the people of Sirsa.