BJP has to start from scratch in Punjab... PM sincere in reaching out to Sikhs: Sunil Jakhar after joining party

Former senior Punjab Congress leader Sunil Jakhar joined the BJP in the presence of the party’s national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday, days after resigning from the Congress. “Jakhar ji is a senior leader from Punjab with nationalist ideology and we welcome him to the party.

His experience and knowledge would be used in Punjab party organisation,” Nadda told media persons after Jakhar joined the party Jakhar, a former head of the Punjab unit of the Congress, told ET, “In September 2021, the day Ambika Soni said that only a Sikh can become the chief minister of Punjab, this was a politics of animosity which wasn’t Congress ideology. I was served a notice by a person like Tariq Anwar, who himself had left the Congress saying he cannot accept a foreigner as their leader. I can’t stop voicing my opinion.”

He said he had friends in the BJP too and that he was approached by the party only after his resignation from the Congress on May 14. “In the current scenario of Punjab, the BJP has prospects and a future in Punjab and if I could add some value to their effort, there is nothing like it. The BJP became my choice because the party has a national presence and follows nationalistic ideology,” said Jakhar. “Of course, the BJP has to start from scratch in the state and the party is making amends,” he said.


“I must say that PM Modi is consistent and sincere in reaching out to the Sikh community and people of Punjab, whether it is the opening of Kartarpur corridor or recent celebration of 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji.”