Amritsar: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Amritsar and Baba Bakala Sahib on Friday on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Rakhar Punya. Before proceeding to Baba Bakala Sahib, Chouhan paid obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar and described himself as fortunate to have visited the Sikh shrine.
Speaking to reporters after his visit, Chouhan targeted the Congress, accusing the party of being “anti-women” and appealing for support to the Women's Reservation Bill. He also rejected the Opposition's allegations of a ₹35,000-crore scam linked to the rise in sugar prices, calling the allegations baseless, and took a political swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
BJP Sets Up Separate Stage at Baba Bakala Sahib
A significant political development at this year's Rakhar Punya gathering was the BJP's decision to set up its own political stage at Baba Bakala Sahib.
This is the first time the BJP has organised a separate stage at the event. Chouhan announced that the BJP would continue to set up its own stage at Baba Bakala Sahib every year from now on.
Earlier, when the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal were alliance partners, BJP leaders used to share the Akali Dal's stage during the annual gathering.
The development assumes significance amid ongoing speculation over the political equations between the BJP and the Akali Dal ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.
While BJP leader B.L. Santosh had earlier indicated that the party would contest all 117 Assembly seats independently, sources cited in the report said discussions about a possible alliance had resumed following a meeting between Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the sources, a possible seat-sharing arrangement of 70 seats for the BJP and 40 for the Akali Dal is being discussed, though there has been no official confirmation of such a formula.
Chouhan to Meet Farmers at Kisan Chaupal
During his visit to Baba Bakala Sahib, Chouhan is scheduled to interact with farmers at the ‘Kisan Chaupal’ programme.
A major announcement concerning agricultural issues is expected during the interaction, with farmers' concerns likely to remain a key focus of the Union Minister's visit.