Vijay Sampla is with BJP, differences will be sorted out: Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar

Sampla, a former chairman of the National Commission of Scheduled Caste, had on April 16 removed the “Modi Ka parivar” tag from his X handle, and posted: “Ek rasta bandh hota hai, Bhagwan aur kai raaste khol deta hai (If one door is closed, God opens many others). Humne to khoon pasina baha diya, ab baarishen likhengi muqaddar zamin ka (I have shed blood and sweat, now the rains will write the destiny of the land)”.

“A path must have been decided for me too,” was his immediate reaction after the BJP gave the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha ticket to Anita Somparkash, the wife of sitting Hoshiarpur MP Somparkash.

Sources said the SAD and the Congress are in touch with him but Jakhar claimed that he (Sampla) continued to be a part of the BJP.
Sampla, however, couldn’t be reached for a comment.

Terming revelations made by AAP’s Amritsar North MLA and former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap “incriminating and damning”, Jakhar demanded the strictest action against all those involved in patronising and shielding drug mafia.

“I would urge the Election Commission to take cognisance and initiate a thorough investigation to ascertain names of those responsible, including police officers, for destroying Punjab by selling drugs,” Jakhar said.

“Had the statement been made by someone else, people would have read political motive into it, but given Kunwar Vijay Pratap’s credibility and background, the statement made by him in the presence of Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal must be probed so that the people of Punjab know what kattar imaandaars are doing in the name of badlaav,” Jakhar said.

Gurmail Singh Thekedar, ex-Nagar council, Mansa, and the president of SAD’s Backward Class (BC) Wing, Mansa, quit the party and joined the BJP.

Speaking on the occasion, Thekedar said, “I was with the SAD for 32 years and I projected myself as district president this time. But I was told that this was not an election for the BC or the SC wing but for the district president and, hence, they preferred a general category candidate. I was shocked as I had been with the party for the past 32 years. Caste still matters and not experience, dedication and work done by a person. Hence, I quit the Akali Dal and joined the BJP and will serve the BJP till my death.”

Responding to Thekedaar, Jakhar said, “It’s sad that such factors are still being considered. Even faults were found in me as well (when in Congress) as I was a Hindu face.”

Notably, after Capt Amarinder Singh’s resignation as the Punjab CM in September 2021, Jakhar’s name was first proposed as the CM but later rejected with a plea that the CM should be a turban-wearing person. Jakhar left Congress months after this episode. He often talks about this episode.

“I am proud of my identity as a Punjabi. I am more of a devout Sikh than these opportunists,” Jakhar said. He also mentioned the episode of cabinet minister Laljit Singh Bhullar who faced casteist remarks during a public speech.

Jakhar said, “By merely hanging pictures of Bhagat Singh or Ambedkar, you don’t become their followers. You need to walk the path shown by them. Hence, I appeal to the people to vote while thinking of communal harmony of the state.”

“In 1996, BJP had an alliance with the SAD, but it wasn’t a political alliance. It was for communal harmony and brotherhood as Punjab was passing through a dark era,” he said.

Taking on the Congress and the AAP over allegations of selling tickets, Jakhar said, “First AAP sold Rajya Sabha tickets to mortgage Punjab’s aspirations and now it is the Congress which is selling MP tickets and can’t find any candidates on its own. The people of Punjab know all this and they will vote consciously for the BJP to ensure lasting peace and security in our state. ”

Leaders who joined the BJP on Thursday included former Mansa Nagar Council head and district president of the SAD BC Wing Gurmel Singh Thekedar, sitting Mansa Councillor Kanchan Sethi, vice-president SAD’s Mansa BC Wing Jaswinder Singh Kaku, among others, along with SAD and Congress supporters.