Dera Jhoota Sauda backs SAD-BJP

Pehlvan · February 2, 2017

http://www.tribuneindia.com/mobi/news/punjab/sacha-sauda-backs-sad-bjp/358336.html

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, Febraury 1

Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda has decided to support the SAD-BJP ruling alliance in the state Assembly elections. The decision was announced late last night. The dera had openly supported the Congress in 2007.

Ram Karn Insan, member, political wing of the dera, said: “We never impose our will on devotees and always go by their wish. This time, the sangat wants to support the SAD-BJP.”

“The dera followers have unanimously decided to support the ruling alliance,” said Harinder Mangwal Insan, a member the state body of the dera followers. Throughout the day, the dera 'premis' organised meetings at several places in the Malwa region where the followers "vowed" support to the alliance candidates. Reports of such meetings being held in Talwandi Sabo, Malout, Sangrur, Fazilka and Abohar constituencies were received.

The decision, however, does not seem to have gone down well with a section of the dera “premis” (as the followers are called). Unwilling to speak openly, some of them said it was strange as the dera “premis” had been confronting Akalis for many years since the 2007 elections.

“Our deras were attacked at several places, while many ‘premis’ were implicated in false cases. The decision to extend support to the SAD-BJP has come as a big surprise to us,” said a follower from Sangrur. The dera has a 15-member state political wing and a five-member national political wing. A 45-member committee was formed to take feedback from followers in the state.

The state political wing completed its “mood gauging” exercise involving devotees across the state before the announcement last night. The members first conducted block-level meetings, then district and finally a state-level meeting was conducted on January 19 in Salabatpura. During the meetings, the members of the wing discussed the local issues with devotees, the performance of present MLAs and their attitude towards dera followers.