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Jalandhar: Often known as the ‘Mecca of Dalits’, Dera Sachkhand Ballan, in Ballan village of Punjab’s Jalandhar district, is making headlines for two back-to-back major developments. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s is set to visit the dera on the 649th Guru Ravidas Jayanti on February 1, its head was recently also awarded the Padma Shri, one of India highest civilian awards.

On January 25, the Union government announced the Padma Shri to Sant Niranjan Das, who has been heading the dera since 1994, for his spiritual leadership and help in spreading the bani (scriptures) of Guru Ravidas, and within two days, Modi’s visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan was announced. 

This has set the ball rolling for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

The prime minister’s visit to Dera Ballan is being viewed as a renewed attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (BJP-RSS) to woo the crucial over 32% Dalit vote bank of Punjab, which happens to be the highest in the country.

It is for the first time that a sitting prime minister would be visiting Dera Ballan, a revered place of Ad-Dharmi or Ravidassia community, the followers of Guru Ravidas, a social figure and spiritual leader. Though Dera Ballan has always stayed away from politics, no political party in Doaba or Punjab could ignore it, nonetheless.

Speaking to The Wire, advocate Satpal Virdi, a close confidante of Dera Ballan, said that politicians from across Punjab had been visiting the dera for its socio-religious significance and as the revered place of Guru Ravidas in Doaba region.

“Dera Ballan has always remained neutral and never been associated with any political party. From Congress, to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Aam Aadmi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the BJP, everybody visits the dera. People are happy over PM Modi’s visit to Dera Ballan and the Padma Shri award to Sant Niranjan Das,” he said.

“If the government wants to take a step towards us, why should we not welcome it?” he asked.

On BJP-RSS’s possible political motive behind these developments, Virdi said, “We cannot say anything about their motive. It can be political too but as of now, the mood is that of celebration and religious fervour.”

Citing previous commitments of the Union government, he further said that Prime Minister Modi should fulfill the demand of construction of a galiara (pilgrim corridor), comprehensive beautification of the mandir complex, and allocation of 100 acres of land for yatri niwas (public accommodation) at Seer Goverdhanpur. 

“The promise of a Rs 500 crore infrastructure package is also yet to be completed,” he said.

“Not only is the galiara project yet to be constructed, but the reconstruction of Guru Ravidas Mandir in Tughlakabad, Delhi is also hanging fire,” he said, adding that the........

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