In a show of strength following the recent removal of Sunil Jakhar as Punjab BJP president, the Jakhar family sought to reaffirm its influence in its traditional stronghold of Abohar during the “Sarv Samaj OBC Sammelan” held there on Saturday. The event was presided over by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and newly appointed Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon. A large number of people attended the gathering.
While addressing the gathering, CM Saini launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and described its rule as “farce”. He alleged that while television channels, newspapers and social media often projected an image of progress and prosperity in the state, the ground reality painted a horrible picture. “If one interacts with people and observes the functioning of the government, a very disturbing picture emerges,” Saini alleged.
He alleged that drug-related deaths were increasing, law and order had deteriorated, corruption was rampant, youth were becoming disillusioned and gangster culture was being patronised by the ruling party leaders.
Saini further alleged that Punjab was being run through a proxy administration controlled by AAP leaders in Delhi, who, he claimed, dictated policies and decisions affecting the people of the state.
The BJP organised the “Sarv Samaj OBC Sammelan” to reach out to the sizeable OBC population in the region, comprising Bagri-, Hindi- and Punjabi-speaking communities, ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Notably, Saini himself belongs to the OBC community.
Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, while addressing the gathering, coined a new slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Hisaab.”
Referring to the alleged corruption, harassment of BJP workers and registration of false cases against them, he warned that the people of Punjab would uproot the AAP government from the state, just as Bengalis had rejected Mamata from Bengal recently.
On a demand raised by his cousin and Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar for the establishment of a medical college in Abohar, Sunil Jakhar announced that he would donate his personal land for the project, saying he considered the people of Abohar as members of his extended family.
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon alleged that funds provided by the Centre had been misutilised by the Punjab Government. He claimed that the Centre had released Rs 4.13 lakh crore to Punjab but questioned how the money had been spent. Dhillon also demanded that
the Punjab Government should provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) on 24 crops on the pattern of Haryana.
Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar said his family had been serving the people of the area for three generations and expressed gratitude for their continued support. He said the BJP’s performance in the recently concluded Abohar Municipal Corporation elections reflected the
confidence reposed in the party by local residents.
Ahead of the event, Haryana Cabinet Minister Ranbir Singh Gangwa camped in Fazilka district for about a week to mobilise party workers and ensure a huge turnout at the programme.
Several supporters were seen displaying stickers of Veer Savarkar on their vehicles. A number of vehicles bearing Haryana registration numbers were also spotted on roads and in the parking area near the venue.
