The people of Sangrur’s Tur Banjara village chased away BJP leaders who had arrived in the village today, sending a clear message to the BJP that they have no place in the village. Reacting sharply to the incident, Punjab AAP State General Secretary and Media Incharge Baltej Pannu said that the people of Punjab have once again rejected the BJP’s attempt to play the caste card. He said that Punjab will never allow the BJP to replicate the Jat-non-Jat politics it played in Haryana.
Caste politics will not work in Punjab
Speaking during a visit by BJP leaders to Toor Banjara village in Sangrur, Baltej Pannu said the people’s response sends a clear message to the BJP that there’s no place for divisive politics in Punjab. He said, “Punjab’s soil is fertile, but the crops of religion, caste, and hatred don’t grow here. Before Toor Banjara, the people sent the same message to the Congress, and today they’ve driven out the BJP as well.”
The BJP is trying to bring the same caste-based electoral politics to Punjab as it did in Haryana. He said that the people of Punjab have always rejected attempts to divide the community for political gain. He said, ” When elections were held in Haryana, they played the Jat-non-Jat game. Now they want to play the same game in Punjab. But such a game has never been played in Punjab, nor will it ever be played in the future. “
Baltej Pannu said that political parties should understand that Punjab cannot be divided into vote banks based on caste. He said, “In other states, votes can be sought by dividing people on the basis of caste, but not in Punjab. The people of Punjab will not allow anyone to divide society on the basis of caste or religion for political gain.”
He said the message emerging from Toor Banjara should be understood by all three traditional political parties: the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Congress, and the BJP. He warned opposition parties against trying to exploit caste and religious sentiments for political gain, saying, “Akali, Congress, and BJP leaders should read the writing on the wall.”
The politics of division will not work in Punjab
Drawing a clear distinction between AAP’s politics and the opposition’s, the AAP Punjab State General Secretary said, “AAP has played the politics of schools and hospitals. We have never played the politics of religion and caste, nor will we do so in the future.” AAP will not allow any political party to engage in divisive and dirty politics in Punjab. He said, “We want to make it clear that we have never played the politics of religion and caste, nor will we ever do so. We will not allow anyone to play such dirty politics in Punjab.”
Punjab has a unique social and political climate, where people have consistently rejected attempts to divide communities. He said that parties seeking electoral advantage through caste polarization should understand that Punjabis will not allow such politics to take root in the state.
He further stated that the people of Punjab want a politics centered on education, healthcare, development, and public welfare, rather than religion, caste, and hatred. Baltej Pannu said, “The people have sent their message. Those trying to divide Punjab for political gain should read the writing on the wall.”
