A delegation of Sikh leaders met Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda on Wednesday, expressing their gratitude for his continued efforts to address the community’s concerns. The leaders, including National Commission for Minorities Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Harmeet Singh Kalka, praised the BJP leadership for its outreach and support for Sikh welfare under the Modi government.
Iqbal Singh Lalpura highlighted the consistent support the Sikh community has received from the BJP during its governance at the Centre. “Whenever there is a BJP government at the Centre, it has always worked for them. The works done by Modi ji, Amit Shah ji, and Nadda ji have been a balm on our wounds,” Lalpura stated. He also presented a book to Nadda as a token of appreciation.
Harmeet Singh Kalka shared his gratitude for the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with Nadda, describing the meeting as a chance to “strengthen our shared vision” for the future. The meeting took place over an evening of High Tea, where various Sikh leaders from Delhi came together to discuss important issues affecting the community. Kalka emphasized the significance of such engagements in building and maintaining a strong rapport between the community and the BJP leadership.
Manjinder Sirsa, another prominent BJP leader and Sikh representative, echoed the sentiment of gratitude, praising Nadda’s humility and outreach. Sirsa referred to the discussions as enriching and beneficial for the community’s future.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of a recent controversy involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. During his visit to the United States, Gandhi commented on the struggles faced by Sikhs in India, including whether they could freely wear religious symbols like turbans or kada. This remark led to a sharp exchange between Congress and BJP leaders. BJP’s Ravneet Singh Bittu went as far as labeling Gandhi the “country’s number 1 terrorist,” a statement that sparked strong reactions and condemnation from Congress members.
Gandhi, however, defended his remarks, accusing the BJP of spreading lies to suppress him and his party. He argued that his statements highlighted genuine issues faced by Sikhs and other minorities in India, positioning his criticism as a fight for justice rather than a political attack. This war of words has only intensified the political discourse surrounding minority rights and religious freedom in the country.
The meeting between Sikh leaders and Nadda, while focused on community welfare, serves as a reminder of the BJP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its ties with religious minorities in India, particularly the Sikh community. The discussions likely touched on issues of religious freedom, social justice, and the community’s role in the broader political landscape.
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As both the BJP and Congress continue to vie for the support of key communities ahead of upcoming elections, such meetings and public exchanges underscore the importance of religious and cultural outreach in India’s political arena.
