The presence of Gurinder Singh Dhillon, the head of the influential Dera Radha Soami Beas, along with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJP working president Ashwani Sharma, at Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s march against drugs in Ferozepur on Tuesday has stirred a political storm in the state, which goes to the polls a year from now.
The fact that leaders from the SAD and BJP shared a public platform for the first time since the Akali Dal quit the NDA after the 2020 farm laws fiasco, has added grist to the political mill, which has been speculating on whether the two parties will return to their former coalition in the next few months.
The Opposition reacted sharply to the development, with ruling AAP asking the Governor to be careful about who he walks with, alleging that the Akalis were responsible for spreading the menace in Punjab.
The Congress alleged that Kataria was attempting to help the SAD and its president regain political relevance. Meanwhile, the presence of the dera chief underlined his growing importance. Dhillon had met drug case accused Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia twice in jail in recent months. After the foot march, he held a meeting with Congress-turned-BJP leader Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi.
Dhillon and Sharma flanked the Governor during the entire 3-km-long stretch of the padyatra, which started from the historic Gurdwara Saragarhi. Sukhbir joined the march when it was about to conclude for the day.
The fact that Sukhbir and Sharma were part of the same programme is being seen as warming of ties between the Akalis and the BJP, with the Beas head and the Governor emerging as key players.
It was also the first time that Sukhbir has participated in a walk against drugs by the Governor, who had held a similar march in April last year.
Kataria had invited all parties but only the Akalis led by Sukhbir turned up. All four AAP MLAs of the area remained absent.
Meanwhile, the Governor in his address lauded initiatives of the AAP government under the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign, and also hailed the launch of anti-gangster Operation Prahar.
However, he said its success depended on the active participation of the public.
Praising Kataria, Sukhbir said the work, which should have been done by the state government, was being undertaken by him.
He said the SAD fully supported the Governor’s call to unite all sections of society, including political parties, against the substance abuse.
BJP leader Sodhi, who held a closed-door meeting with the dera chief, said only the issue of drugs was discussed.
He said Dhillon was concerned about the drug menace and wanted Punjab to become best state in the country. Sodhi said no political meaning could be attributed to the meeting