The entire city of Jalandhar is adorned with hoardings and banners featuring prominent Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Adviser to the Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department Deepak Bali, ahead of a religious event dedicated to Lord Shiva scheduled for this Saturday.
Event Details
The programme, titled “Ek Shaam Bhagwan Shiv Ke Naam”, will take place on June 13 at the Sain Dass School ground. Renowned devotional singer Hansraj Raghuwanshi is set to perform, with an expected gathering of over 5,000 devotees. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, party in-charge Manish Sisodia, along with several MLAs and ministers, are likely to attend.
Political Undertones
Addressing a press conference alongside Minister Mohinder Bhagat, Bali stated that the event is supported by the government but primarily driven by local temple committees and residents. “The initiative aims to promote communal harmony, peace and spiritual well-being,” he said. Sanatan Sewa Samiti president Vijay Sharma also attended the briefing.
The event has garnered political attention in Jalandhar Central ahead of the Assembly elections. While the party continues to sideline AAP MLA Raman Arora, the hoardings notably omit pictures of Jalandhar Central halqa in-charge Nitin Kohli. The Arora camp perceives the event as an attempt to overshadow a recent bhajan programme organised by Kanhiya Mittal, which drew large crowds despite an alleged last-minute attempt by Punjab Police to cancel it. On the same evening, AAP leaders including Bali and Kohli had to clarify that the confusion was resolved and the bhajan sandhya proceeded as planned.
Religious Outreach and Votebank Politics
Political observers link the event to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s recent social media post alleging that “Hindu traders” were being targeted by the “ED party.” One observer remarked, “Just as the BJP is set to show more presence in the state, AAP wants to polarise the Hindu votebank towards its side.” AAP has also been wooing other communities; in Doaba, it organised a kirtan darbar for the upcoming 650th Parkash Purb of Guru Ravidas in Phagwara, followed by a similar event in Kapurthala. The party is also holding religious pilgrimages for devotees across the state. With assembly polls approaching, political and religious outreach activities appear to be moving in tandem.
