Jalandhar (Gurpreet Singh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar district on February 1, a move being seen as politically significant with the Punjab Assembly elections due next year.
Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu confirmed the programme, stating that the Prime Minister will arrive at the revered Dera around 4 pm after attending the Budget Session of Parliament earlier in the day.
The visit coincides with the 649th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass, a revered spiritual figure whose followers form a substantial and influential community in Punjab. Over the past few years, Prime Minister Modi has marked Ravidass Jayanti by visiting Seer Govardhan in Varanasi, the saint’s birthplace and the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency. This year’s decision to visit Dera Ballan — regarded as one of the most important religious centres for the Ravidassia community — is being viewed as a strategic outreach ahead of the state polls.
Ravidassias largely belong to Dalit and Sikh backgrounds, with a section identifying as Hindu. Dalits account for nearly 34 per cent of Punjab’s population, making the community a crucial electoral bloc. Political observers believe the timing and location of the visit underline the BJP’s intent to strengthen its footprint in the state.
Adding to the symbolism, the head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Sant Niranjan Dass, was conferred the Padma Shri during this year’s Republic Day celebrations. The honour followed his meeting with the Prime Minister in New Delhi around two months ago, which was attended by several senior BJP leaders, including Avinash Chander, Tarun Chugh and former Union Minister Vijay Sampla.
Sant Niranjan Dass oversees major religious centres associated with Guru Ravidass in both Varanasi and Ballan. Traditionally, he leads a special train carrying nearly 2,000 devotees to Varanasi on the eve of Ravidass Jayanti. While the train will be flagged off on January 29 this year as well, he is expected to return by air to Punjab to be present for the Prime Minister’s visit.
The announcement of Modi’s visit has energised the Punjab BJP, with party leaders hinting at a possible major announcement during the event. A former BJP MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that the Adampur airport could be named after Guru Ravidass. The visit also comes ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s proposed trip to the state on February 22, further boosting party momentum.
BJP leaders have said the Prime Minister’s presence will mark the beginning of year-long celebrations leading up to the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass next year. “This visit will formally launch the commemorative programmes,” Avinash Chander said.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party is also preparing events to mark Ravidass Jayanti, including plans for a state-level function. The party has proposed setting up a Guru Ravidass Research Centre near the Dera, for which 12 acres of land is reportedly being considered. Similar announcements were earlier made during the Congress government’s tenure, but Dera representatives have said those promises have yet to materialise.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is also expected to visit Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur district on February 6, where a 151-foot-tall Minar-e-Begampura at Guru Ravidass’s tapo-asthan is set to be unveiled.
