- विज्ञापन -
Chandigarh: In a significant blow to the Indian National Congress in Punjab, former MLA Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala, son of the former Cabinet Minister Sardul Singh Bandala, has tendered his withdrawal from the run of upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Bandala, who represented the Jandiala constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022, expressed his grievances, particularly concerning the treatment of the Dalit community within the party.
Addressing Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and senior party leaders, including Opposition Leader Pratap Singh Bajwa, Bandala outlined a series of critical issues affecting the Dalit community. He highlighted the failure to implement the 85th Amendment in Punjab, despite its adoption in other states with significant Dalit populations. Bandala also emphasized the mismanagement of funds allocated for the Scheduled Caste (SC) sub-plan, contributing to the ongoing socio-economic struggles of Dalits in the state.
In his letter, Bandala pointedly criticized the lack of representation for Dalits in the Punjab cabinet, particularly the neglect of the Mazbhi Sikh community, the largest SC community in the state. He underscored the failure of successive governments, including the tenure of Chief Minister Charanjeet Singh Channi, to address these longstanding grievances effectively.
Bandala’s move comes amid growing discontent within the Dalit community towards the Congress party’s leadership in Punjab.
Taking to the Facebook he wrote , “Mr. Charanjeet Singh Channi I want to ask you why should valmiki / majhbi sikh samaj vote or support you ?? . When members of your community have filed a case in the Hon’ble Supreme Court to snatch the reservation rights of Majbhi Sikh / Valmiki samaj ( 12.5 % of 25% total sc reservation provided to my community in 1975 ) inspite of being the most downtrodden and oppressed sections who need the reservation most ??
You being chief minister of Punjab went out of your way to keep Majbhi sikh community which is numerically the largest SC community of Punjab ( 31.6 % of total sc population) out of your cabinet
Mr. Channi in a democratic contest you are liable and answerable to my “samaj”. I stand with my community with all my might and grace and in protest to this dark and grave move to darken the future of coming generations of my Majbhi and Valmiki samaj. I don’t want to contest from Faridkot and have requested the party for withdrawal of my application Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.”
