Punjab ex-CM Charanjit Channi takes part in five shobha yatras across Jalandhar

Deepkamal Kaur

Jalandhar, February 23

Being a regular attendee for programmes at Dera Sachkhand Ballan and other deras across Doaba, former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi once again spent the entire day in Jalandhar district today attending a multitude of shobha yatras to mark Guru Ravidas Jayanti.

Gets warm welcome

The Dalit community, which looks upon former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi as its tallest leader having been the only Dalit CM of Punjab so far, showed much response upon his visit to Jalandhar. Leaders of all political parties, including AAP MP Sushil Rinku, former SAD MLA Pawan Tinu and BJP leader Avinash Chander, greeted him well at the events and Channi reciprocated with the same warmth.

He did not just attend shobha yatra functions in Jalandhar city but also toured to Phillaur, Nakodar, Nurmahal and Phagwara for similar events. The Dalit community, which looks upon him as its tallest leader having been the only Dalit CM of Punjab so far, showed much response upon his visit to Jalandhar.

Leaders of all political parties, including AAP MP Sushil Rinku, former SAD MLA Pawan Tinu and BJP leader Avinash Chander, greeted him well at the events and Channi reciprocated with the same warmth.

There was a long queue of devotees at Guru Ravidas Bhawan in Buta Mandi and all across the shobha yatra route with people thronging by his side asking him to get clicked with them. Channi did not use his security cover and tried to oblige maximum people. He stood in an open jeep keeping his hands folded throughout the procession which had tens of thousands of devotees in attendance.

Prior to his participation at the religious programmes, he visited the house of Congress leader and Nakodar halqa in charge Dr Navjot Dahiya. Party leaders, including MLAs Hardev S Laddi and Bawa Henry, former MLA Surinder Chaudhary, former DCP Rajinder Singh and ex-councillor Aruna Chaudhary, received him at his place.

Channi’s close confidants – MLAs Pargat Singh and Sukhwinder Kotli – were reportedly not available locally and did not turn up. Congress spokesperson Amritpal Bhonsle received him in Phillaur, where his popularity also remained high. Channi’s presence in Jalandhar surely seemed to have toppled the plans of some Congress leaders who are in the race for ticket from the reserved Lok Sabha seat.

Visit not related to political activity: Channi

Reacting to reports of his likely candidature from Jalandhar, Channi said, “My visit to Jalandhar on Friday should in no way be related to any political activity. It was purely a visit for the religious programmes. As a CM, I got a project initiated on Sri Guru Ravidas Research Centre at Ballan. So, organisers of shobha yatra events in Jalandhar had invited me. Even last year, I was here on this occasion.”

Leaders mark their presence

Jalandhar: Ahead of the elections, customary rise in the stream of politicians heading to religious centres has begun yet again this year, particularly ahead of the Parkash Utsav of Guru Ravidas. Shobha yatras held in Jalandhar on Friday saw participation from political leaders from across party lines. AAP MP Sushil Kumar Rinku, MLA Sheetal Angural among others participated in shobha yatras in Jalandhar. From BJP, former MLA and state vice-president KD Bhandari and BJP leader Rajesh Bagha attended the shobha yatra in the city. AAP MLA Raman Arora also marked his presence on the occasion.

Ministers, officials among attendees

Phagwara: To mark the 647th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, a shobha yatra was organised in Phagwara. It began from Guru Ravidas Mandir, Chack Hakim. The yatra concluded here after passing through main bazaars and roads of the town. Union Minister of State Som Parkash, Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Phagwara SDM Jashanjit Singh, Naib Tehsildar Mandip Singh, former Minister Joginder Singh Maan, AAP leader Santosh Kumar Gogi and Punjab BJP SC Morcha president Sucha Ram Ladhar among others took part in the yatra. The police, led by Phagwara SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti, made elaborate security arrangements during the yatra. Traffic in charge Aman Kumar made efforts to ensure normal traffic on the diverted routes. A large number of langars were also organised on the occasion. —OC