Sangrur (Punjab): Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) candidate Simranjit Singh Mann, who won the by-election from Sangrur Lok Sabha seat of Punjab, has created a controversy! Mann claimed that the lessons of Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were behind his success. Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann said, “This is a victory for our party workers and the teachings of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.”
Notably, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was a religious leader. He led a violent campaign backed by Pakistan for a separate Sikh state. In 1982, he moved into the Golden Temple complex, gathering like-minded followers and reportedly stockpiling weapons. To curb these activities, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered Operation Blue Star. This led to a clash with the army in 1984 and he and many others were killed.
Simranjit Singh Mann won the by-election in Sangrur, the home constituency of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, defeating an Aam Aadmi Party candidate. After winning the Lok Sabha by-election, Mann said he would raise the “atrocities of the Indian Army in Kashmir” in Parliament. He will also talk about the killing of tribals in Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
Simranjit Mann’s comments have angered the Congress, with the party strongly objecting to his statement of supporting the separatist leader. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, ‘Punjab cannot go back to those dark days of terror. If what has come out is true then democracy has been defeated in Sangrur today.
Meanwhile, Mann won the by-election with 2,53,154 votes thus defeating the candidate of the ruling party in the previous Lok Sabha seat by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. “This is a big victory for our party. We have defeated all national parties in this by-election. My priority will be to raise the issue of the debt-ridden farmers’ condition including the poor economic condition of Sangrur. We will work with the Punjab government.” Representative in Parliament. I will work hard to alleviate the suffering of farmers, farm labourers, traders and everyone in my area, he said. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal congratulated Mann and said, “I sincerely and wholeheartedly congratulate Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann and his party on their electoral victory in the Sangrur parliamentary by-election and extend their best wishes and cooperation. We bow before the mandate of the people in true democratic spirit.
On the other hand, Mayawati’s role behind the Samajwadi Party’s defeat in the by-elections in Rampur and Azamgarh Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh has become clear. According to the anti-BJP camp, Mayawati had fielded a candidate to divide Muslim votes in Azamgarh. The Samajwadi Party had to bear the brunt of this. BJP has benefited. Mayawati’s party did not field any candidate in Rampur constituency to benefit the BJP by securing Dalit votes. Which played a big role in the victory of the saffron camp.
After the defeat of Samajwadi Party in both these seats, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has targeted Akhilesh Yadav. “The results of Uttar Pradesh have shown that the Samajwadi Party is unable to defeat the BJP,” he said. Targeting Akhilesh, Owaisi said, “Akhilesh has such arrogance that he has stopped going to people. My appeal to the Muslims of the country is to create your own political identity.
(with ANI inputs)