Politics begins over PM Modi's visit to Punjab's Dera Sachkhand Ballan
To visit Dera Ballan on Feb 1
Just as Union Minister of State Ravneet Bittu on Tuesday announced the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar on the occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, politics has already got started over it.
While all BJP leaders are upbeat over the PM's visit, the Aam Aadmi Party leadership seems to have been taken aback after the announcement.
Aam Aadmi Party leader and minister Mohinder Bhagat said he hoped that upon his visit, the PM would give Punjab an assurance that its Rs 9,000 crore Rural Development Fund would be released soon.
Bhagat said, "We also expect the PM to release the Rs 1,600 crore dole that he had announced as relief for the flood-hit Punjab five months back. We are also expecting that he will announce a special package for Punjab."
The SC leader, who has been with the BJP for decades, however, was quick to add, "We will welcome the PM with open arms. The Prime Minister does not belong to any party. After all, he leads the nation."
On Bhagat's statement, former minister Manoranjan Kalia said, "We should not add any political context to the PM's visit. His visit purely signifies that he respects all religions and communities and he wants to be a part of all big spiritual events, centenaries and half centenaries. Just as the PM had recently taken part in the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur and also took a holy dip at Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh, he will attend the beginning of the 650th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Ravidas."
Kalia said, "It was wrong for the AAP minister to see through the PM's visit and issue any political statements for the same".
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Minister Mohinder Bhagat said, "We expect the PM to release the Rs 1,600 crore dole that he had announced as relief for the flood-hit Punjab five months back. We are also expecting that he will announce a special package for Punjab."
BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia said, "We should not add any political context to the PM's visit. His visit purely signifies that he respects all religions and communities and he wants to be a part of all big spiritual events"
