Former MP Hans Raj Hans, Nakodar's Dera Lal Badshah functionaries at odds over its control

Deepkamal Kaur

Jalandhar, July 19

Four months after former BJP MP from North West Delhi Hans Raj Hans quit the custodianship of the popular Dera Lal Badshah at Nakodar, a fresh controversy has erupted amid the ongoing three-day Urs mela. Owing to the dispute, the district administration has appointed the Nakodar tehsildar as the receiver for the donations at the dera.

No tussle

I went to the dera last evening to pay obeisance and returned after that. There is no dispute with anyone. I did not perform there as I had a prior engagement. Hans Raj Hans, Former MP

Took over in 2001

Located in Nakodar, the Dera Lal Badshah is named after Sufi saint Almast Bapu Lal Badshah. The dera, which promotes Sufi singing, came up during the lifetime of the saint. Lal Badshah passed away in March 2000. Almost a year later, Hans Raj Hans took over as the head sewadar and started to develop the dera. Soon the footfall and donations started rising. Every year, he conducts all ceremonies at the Urs mela.

Had Quit in 2014 too

Hans Raj Hans quit the dera in May 2014 after a dispute with committee members. He moved to Gohir village of Nakodar where he announced setting up of a Sufi singing academy. However, nothing much could be done there and he got involved in politics. Later, he returned to the Dera Lal Badshah, but once again handed over the keys to the new committee four months ago. He is learnt to be interested in taking back the reigns of the dera once again.

Sufi singer Hans Raj had reportedly gone to the dera on Thursday evening to attend the traditional flag ceremony, but new committee members, led by president Dimmy Gill, and locals did not allow him to preside over it. He reportedly returned without even performing at the mela. The mela, which entered second day today, is getting a footfall of over 50,000 daily with most followers being from the Valmiki community.

A member of the new committee said Hans Raj should either stay involved in politics or pay attention to the dera. “He cannot be allowed to do both. Four months ago, he had himself handed over the keys of the dera, registration documents of its properties, silver ornaments and other valuable donations of the dera to us. But his supporters have returned, alleging that the keys were taken by us under pressure. But we have a video to prove that it was his voluntary decision,” said Gill.

Those supporting Hans are mainly AAP leaders, including local MLA Inderjit Kaur Mann and Valmiki leaders Chandan Grewal and Vijay Danav. Danav had joined AAP last month. The members of the new committee alleged that Hans Raj was trying to use the support of the state government and the local administration to take back the custody of the dera. “He had acted similarly in 2014 when he had left the dera following some allegations against him,” they alleged, adding that since he lost the election from the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat, he had returned to stake claim to the dera.

Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said, “We did not know about the ongoing tiff at the dera till we got permission from two groups to hold the mela, with both claiming to be custodians. We finally decided to appoint a receiver. After the mela concludes, we will call both sides and take a decision on merit.”

When contacted, Hans Raj said he still was the chairman of the committee. “I agree, I can technically do one thing — singing or being a saint or siyasat. For this reason, I went to the dera last evening to pay obeisance and returned after that. I am not in dispute with anyone. I did not perform there as I had a prior engagement. Even today, I am busy with some party work,” he said.