Sidhu visits Doaba deras ahead of polls

Deepkamal Kaur

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 6

Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu today visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan and Dera Baba Jaura, both with a sizeable following among the Dalits. Accompanied by ministers Charanjit Singh Channi and Aruna Chaudhary, among others, Sidhu paid obeisance at the two deras ahead of the Assembly polls.

At Dera Ballan, he met Sant Niranjan Dass and sought his blessings to create a “new Punjab”. Channi sought 101 acres of land for the dera. The issue of due representation to the Dalit community in the civil administration and the police was discussed too.

At Dera Baba Jaura, the Congress team met Sant Nirmal Dass. As Dalits comprise 32 per cent of Punjab’s population, leaders of almost all parties make it a point to meet the dera heads prior to the elections to enlist their support. Sidhu’s dera visit today is significant as both the BJP and the SAD have announced top Cabinet positions for the Dalits.