Polls on mind, Sidhu visits 2 Dalit deras in Jalandhar

Says want blessings for his campaign to create ‘new’ Punjab

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Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 6

Newly elected PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu today visited two deras associated with the Dalit community – Dera Sachkhand Ballan and Dera Baba Jaura.

Sidhu took blessings from sect heads at both deras ahead of the state Assembly polls. At Ballan, Sidhu along with Charanjit Singh Channi, Aruna Chaudhary, Sushil Rinku and Sangat Singh Gilzian met dera head Sant Niranjan Dass.

Addressing a gathering, Sidhu said since he had launched a campaign to create a “new” Punjab, he wanted to take blessings from the dera heads.

Channi said the state government should provide 101 acres of land to the dera. The issue of giving due representation to the Dalits in the administrative and police posts was also taken up. The dera head offered shawls to the leaders and presented a religious symbol to Sidhu. At Dera Baba Jaura, the Congress leaders met its head Sant Nirmal Dass.

Sidhu’s move is seen as a bid to counter rival parties who have been trying to woo the community by promising it top posts, including those of the CM and deputy CM.

Both deras have a huge following among the Dalits. Leaders of almost all parties make it a point to visit these deras ahead of the elections.