11 June
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Political dynamics in Punjab have heated up following the inclusion of Ravneet Bittu in Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet. Former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, who recently won the parliamentary elections from Gurdaspur, has publicly questioned Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar on social media.
Randhawa tweeted, “Jakhar Sahib, do you remember when you said that the Congress did not make me the Chief Minister because I am a Hindu? Why did the BJP give the ministry to a Sikh instead of making you a minister?” He further added, “As the Congress had given you the right to criticize, can you criticize the party while being in the BJP?”
Jakhar had previously accused the Congress of religious discrimination, stating that he was overlooked for the Chief Minister position in favor of Charanjit Channi despite having more votes, attributing this to his Hindu identity. Randhawa’s pointed questions come in light of Jakhar’s past grievances and the BJP’s recent decision to appoint a Sikh to the cabinet instead of Jakhar.
This development has stirred political conversations in Punjab, with many observing how Jakhar will respond to Randhawa’s challenge and what implications this might have for the BJP’s strategy in the state.