Controversy Erupts in BJP Over Kamal Nath’s Potential Entry: Sikh Community Leaders Express Concern
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Feb. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself embroiled in turmoil over the prospect of former Congress leader Kamal Nath joining its lines, with party members expressing divergent views on the matter. Concerns have been raised within the party leadership regarding the potential implications of inducting Kamal Nath, who has faced allegations in connection with the 1984 Sikh riots, stirring apprehension within the Sikh community and across several states, including Delhi and Punjab.
Sikh leaders within the BJP assert that the inclusion of Kamal Nath in the party could send the wrong message and potentially alienate the Sikh community. They have registered their dissent within the appropriate forums, voicing their opposition to Kamal Nath’s entry into the party ranks. The unfolding controversy comes at a time when speculations regarding the potential defection of Congress leader Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath to the BJP have been circulating, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for party workers to strive for winning 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Sikh leaders emphasize that they have historically appealed to their community members to support the BJP, promising them justice. Kamal Nath, along with Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, are among the Congress leaders accused of leading mobs during the 1984 Sikh riots, which resulted in the deaths of over 3,500 Sikhs. While Sajjan Kumar has already been convicted in connection with his involvement in the riots, Jagdish Tytler is currently facing legal proceedings.
Kamal Nath has thus far evaded accountability due to lack of evidence and witnesses. However, BJP leaders have been demanding a re-investigation into the Sikh riots, seeking justice for the victims. Consequently, there are reservations within the BJP regarding the potential negative repercussions of Kamal Nath’s induction into the party.
Stating their position, BJP’s national spokesperson and influential Sikh leader Sardar RP Singh said that there is a sense of ambiguity among the Sikh community regarding the inclusion of Jagdish Tytler in the party. He assured that the matter has been brought up in the appropriate party forum, expressing confidence that the party leadership will make the right decision, considering all aspects.
Challenges Ahead:
At the BJP’s National Executive Meeting in Delhi (February 17-18), the party set an ambitious target of winning 370 seats in the Lok Sabha elections of 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that achieving this target would be a true homage to the party’s founder, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. To achieve this target, the party has been strategizing to win over opposition leaders in various states.
The Conundrum of Chhindwara:
One of the difficult seats to win for BJP is the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh, where the party has consistently failed to secure victory despite the Modi wave. The seat poses a perplexing challenge for the BJP. The constituency has been under the influence of Congress leader Kamal Nath since 1980, who has won here nine times. Additionally, his wife Alka Nath won the seat once in 1996, and their son Nakul Nath secured victory in 2019. It is speculated that by bringing Kamal Nath and Nakul Nath into the BJP fold, the party aims to conquer this stronghold.
Political Maneuvering:
At present, Rahul Gandhi is on his Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra. BJP’s strategy could be to create an uncomfortable situation for Rahul Gandhi and the Congress by inducting Kamal Nath into the party during this period.
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