Today, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti visited Guru Ravidas birthplace in Varanasi. Before visiting she had said that she always wanted to visit the place, which sounds similar to what PM Modi says usually “iss jagah se mera khas rishta hai” (I have a special relationship with this place). Can someone ask her, was anyone stopping her till now?

Priyanka Gandhi met Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan as well at the Ravidas’s birthplace. This move and previous moves of Congress through Priyanka Gandhi (she visited Ravan in the hospital a few months ago) are seen by many as just another attempt to reach out Bhim Army chief before 2022 assembly elections in the Uttar Pradesh.

Congress leader’s visit is nothing new. From Akali Dal leaders to AAP leaders and Congress to BJP leaders all have paid visits to Dera Sachkhand Ballan. Dera Sachkhand Ballan is one of the most powerful religious places of Dalits in the village of Ballan near Jalandhar (Punjab). Dalits constitute almost 33% of the population in Punjab, which is the highest, percentage-wise, among all states in India but still, we have to beg from others for our rights. Is not it a matter of shame for us (yes, I come from Punjab).

It was Saheb Kanshi Ram and BSP that started and supported Dera Sach Khand Ballan’s quest for finding birthplace of Guru Ravidas and build Ravidas temple at that place. On 25th May 1997, the foundation stone of Guru Ravidas gate at Varanasi was laid by Saheb Kanshi Ram and later inaugurated by President K R Narayanan on July 16, 1998. It would be betrayal if I deny that Dera’s closeness to Congress from those initial days. Congress leaders in Punjab has always been close to Dera’s management, which helped Congress win some votes.

Why do Sach Khand Ballan Ravidas Dera people even let such people come and why do they even entertain them? What have they done for Dalits of Punjab in last 70 years of their rule? Instead of issuing scholarships of Dalit students, they are spending money on building “Cow Memorial“. How many tubewell connections were given to Dalits? How much land was allocated to Dalits? Even the land that is reserved for Dalits is given to upper castes. According to one report, out of 33% reserved land for Dalits, only 2.5% or so is allocated to Dalits of Punjab. Congress and co. haven’t done anything for Dalits so why do Dera people need to entertain such casteist people?

Almost every year, Dera Sach Khand Ballan books trains for its devotes to take them to the birthplace of Guru Ravidas and almost every year it faces issues of train cancellations. In 2017, under Akali-BJP rule,  four trains booked by Sach Khand Ballan to go to Varanasi and celebrate Guru Ravidas birth anniversary on 10th Feb at the birthplace of Guru Ravidas were cancelled. Dera did not learn a thing from it and this year as well under Congress rule in Punjab, trains were cancelled and later restored when forced and ministers involved.

Grateful to @PiyushGoyal ji for taking prompt action on my request & restoring the Jalandhar-Varanasi trains. Cancellation of these trains had caused deep distress to devotees of Guru Ravidas ji Maharaj who wished to attend 643rd Jayanti celebrations at his Janam Asthan on Feb 9. pic.twitter.com/pYQ2XSq8b4

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) February 3, 2020

This is not a one-time issue, year after year I have heard similar stories that trains have been cancelled or no platform was allocated at Varanasi station for the train. Trains had to stop somewhere nearby Varanasi and then passengers have to arrange their journey after that. Such discrimination in the hands of Brahmin-Banias is a common thing that I have heard year after year but still, Dera management does not understand the value of stepping in the politics and be a deciding factor in Punjab’s politics. 

Most of the Dalit population in Punjab is concentrated in the Doaba region, around 45%. The region sends 23 representatives to the state assembly of 117, and the dera has a direct influence on at least 20 seats, where Ravidassia community’s vote-share ranges from 20% to 50%. Anyone with such high vote-share can easily influence the election in any direction.

Dera people need to understand that religion and politics go hand in hand. I do not know what kind of people are in the management of Dera who do not/can not take any stand. Tomorrow, Kejriwal will come, day after then Captain and then Modi will come and these people will keep on entertaining them. What kind of message does it send to the Dalit community? Dera has millions of followers all over the world, it can easily influence the political situation in Punjab. Why does not Dera take a stand? Take some stand even if you are wrong, take a stand. If not, at least when these people are coming to you, ask them what they have done for Dalits. We all know these political party leaders are coming to visit for our votes so why not hold them responsible?

According to the 2003 report, there are more than 100 Deras run by Dalits in Punjab, Sach Khand Ballan being the largest and most popular among Dalits of Punjab. All of them are so serious about not to mix religion with politics and dislike all of them for the same reason. When they have millions and millions of followers they can easily influence the result of the Punjab election but their too much sincerity is hurting Dalits of Punjab.

Learn from VHP and RSS guys. If you want to survive, learn how to manage religion and politics together. Both can not survive without the support of each other. Guru Ravidas never asked you not to mix politics with religion, and when he asked for Begumpura he didn’t mean oh yeah Begumpura will come through Brahmin-Banias. Begumpura will not become reality without political power, better understand that. 

Author – Pardeep Attri