BJP debuts at Maghi mela, Saini pitches ‘Haryana model’ for Punjab

Addressing the gathering largely in Punjabi, with occasional Hindi phrases, Saini emphasised the historical, cultural and familial ties between the two states. “Punjab is not just our neighbouring state, it shares a blood relationship with Haryana,” he said, adding that Haryana wanted to see Punjab prosper.

Referring to the floods that hit Punjab in 2025, Saini said he had appealed to people in Haryana to help their “vadda bhara” and claimed residents from across the state had contributed and personally reached flood-affected villages. In a political remark, he said that during the floods Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was hospitalised, though he had visited Mann to enquire about his health. Mann had been admitted to a private hospital in Mohali at the time.

Pitching what he described as the BJP’s “double-engine” governance model, Saini said it had delivered on promises in Haryana and could do the same in Punjab if the party came to power in 2027. He highlighted Haryana’s welfare and agriculture policies, claiming the state provides MSP on 24 crops, offers the highest sugarcane prices, and has implemented Ayushman Bharat along with the Chirayu Yojana. He also said farmers had received ₹15,000 crore as compensation under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana over the past 11 years, and questioned why Punjab had not adopted the scheme.

Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu, who also addressed the gathering, said Saini’s frequent visits to Punjab reflected concern for the state. Former Union minister Anurag Thakur, MP from Hamirpur, referred to what he termed a “K-company”, saying Punjab needed to free itself from it along with crime and drugs. BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar later clarified that the reference was to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

Jakhar, in his address, criticised Congress state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel over reported remarks describing the appointment of Charanjit Singh Channi as Punjab chief minister in 2021 as a “mistake”. Jakhar said the BJP opposed any suggestion that the appointment of a chief minister from the Scheduled Caste community was an error, asserting that Punjab rejected divisions based on caste or religion. He also accused sections of the Congress leadership of surrendering to the Aam Aadmi Party government to shield alleged corruption.

All speakers criticised the AAP government over law and order, corruption and what they described as actions hurtful to Sikh sentiments. Thakur referred to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann being summoned by the Akal Takht over his statements and videos, and called upon voters to work towards a “Viksit Punjab”.

The conference was attended by senior BJP leaders including Anurag Thakur, Sunil Jakhar, working president Ashwani Sharma and former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal. The event focused its political attacks on the Congress over the 1984 riots and on the AAP for governance failures, while largely avoiding criticism of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The recurring slogan at the conference was “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Punjab”.