Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hosted a group of prominent Sikhs from across India, appearing to make a last-minute outreach towards the community before Punjab votes on Sunday.
Modi hosted the group at his official 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence on the last day of campaigning for Punjab elections and the third phase of Uttar Pradesh polls being held in the backdrop of the protracted farmers’ agitation.
The over yearlong farmers’ agitation that compelled the Centre to withdraw the three contentious farm laws was primarily led by the Sikh farmers from Punjab and the Jats from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Though the BJP has hardly any strength in Punjab, particularly after snapped ties with long-time ally Akali Dal, Modi appeared to be making a push to woo the community and get some foothold in the state.
The hateful attacks by sections of the BJP, calling the farm law protesters “Khalistanis” and “urban Naxals”, had generated a lot of anger.
The Prime Minister appeared to be making an effort to calm Sikh tempers ahead of voting in the state. The BJP is contesting Punjab polls in alliance with the new party floated by former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh.
“This morning, I met a range of people from the Sant Samaj and Sikh community,” Modi tweeted with pictures of the meeting, terming the community members as “distinguished individuals” at the forefront of popularising the Sikh culture and serving society.
“I consider it my honour that respected Sikh Gurus have taken Seva from me and their blessings have enabled me to work for society,” he said in another tweet.
Apart from Punjab, the Sikh community has a prominent presence in Kanpur city that votes on Sunday and Lakhimpur Kheri, which will go to polls in the fourth phase.
A jeep belonging to a Union minister had mowed down four farmers returning from a protest in Lakhimpur Kheri in October last year.
His guests also heaped praise on Modi, making particular mention of the 1984 riots, an issue repeatedly used by the BJP to slam the Congress and woo the Sikhs.
“The PM is a Sikh at heart. He has a deep understanding of the Sikh scriptures, gurus and language and culture,” Ravinder Singh Ahuja, president of Sikh forum, Delhi, said in a video sent by the Prime Minister’s office.
Videos of Sikh leaders praising Modi were uploaded on social media by the BJP. The BJP even held a news conference over the issue.
Later in the evening, Modi tweeted an over 5-minute video of the meeting, in which he claimed a “khoon ka rishta” (blood relation) with Sikhs.
