Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini issued a powerful call for unity among the Other Backward Classes in Punjab on Sunday, asserting that an organized OBC community would ensure a Bharatiya Janata Party victory in the next provincial assembly elections. Addressing a massive OBC conference in Rupnagar, Saini emphasized that the BJP is the only political entity that provides equal representation and genuine honour to all sections of society. He remarked that the overwhelming turnout at the event was a clear signal of social awakening, suggesting that the community has become increasingly conscious of its rights and its role in shaping the political future of the region.
During his address, the Haryana Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann regarding a special legislative session recently convened on Labour Day. Saini described the session as a mockery of the working class and accused the Aam Aadmi Party administration of harboring an anti-poor mindset. He noted that the citizens of Punjab, who had delivered a significant mandate to the AAP in the previous election, now feel deceived by the government’s performance. Saini challenged the Punjab Chief Minister to provide a transparent account of how many electoral promises have actually been fulfilled, rather than resorting to political theater in the temple of democracy.
Chief Minister Saini further alleged that previous administrations in Punjab treated the OBC community merely as a vote bank to serve their own interests, consistently denying them the opportunities they deserved. In contrast, he highlighted the transformative policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that social justice has been implemented as a core policy under his leadership. Saini pointed out that the Prime Minister himself hails from the OBC community and has prioritized bringing marginalized groups into the mainstream. He cited the granting of constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes and the implementation of 27 per cent reservation in medical and higher education as historic milestones that have opened new doors for the youth.
The Haryana Chief Minister also underscored the BJP’s commitment to leadership diversity, mentioning that 27 ministers in the federal cabinet belong to the OBC category and that five BJP-governed states currently have Chief Ministers from the same community. He urged the gathering to move beyond regional and caste-based divisions to strengthen the party at the grassroots level across Punjab. The event was attended by several senior leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, Punjab BJP Executive President Ashwani Sharma, and Parliamentary Board member Iqbal Singh Lalpura, all of whom echoed the sentiment that a collaborative effort is needed to challenge the current provincial leadership and secure a government focused on genuine public welfare.
