New Delhi: Several important and prominent Sikh leaders, including Akali Dal, on Tuesday (January 11) joined the BJP even as Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said January 5 PM security breach episode has strengthened the resolve of all party workers.
Former Congress leader Arvind Khanna, President of Panth Ratna Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra Memorial Trust Kanvar Singh Todha, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Gurdeep Singh Gosha and former councillor of Amritsar Dharmveer Sareen joined the saffron party in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Khanna served as a member of the legislative assembly from Sangrur (2002-2007) and Dhuri (2012-2015). He was also Punjab Pradesh Congress general secretary.
Akali Dal leader Gosha, who also joined the BJP, has criticised Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and said the latter had shown "indecency" by not answering the BJP president's phone on January 5 when a security breach of the Prime Minister's convoy at Ferozepur came to light. He had also said the episode reflected the attempt of the Congress party to "set Punjab on fire".
Union Minister Shekhawat, in charge of polls for BJP in Punjab, said on Tuesday that Ferozepur would witness the highest ever turnout at any political rally in Punjab. "But political workers, in collusion with police, stopped not only the public but also the Prime Minister from attending the rally. It has only strengthened resolve of BJP workers," he said.
