Chandigarh, March 2: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring stated on Monday that the people of Punjab have historically rejected communal politics and will not be swayed by symbolic gestures.
In a conversation with reporters in Chandigarh, Warring addressed the recent appearance of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini sporting a turban, asserting that Punjabis prioritize core issues over political performance.
Warring affirmed that while he respects the individual freedom of any leader to follow a faith or wear a turban, the timing of the Haryana Chief Minister’s choice carries undeniable political overtones. He declared that the BJP appears to be using Saini as a “poster boy” for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections. The Congress leader maintained that Saini’s increased presence in Punjab, rather than his own state of Haryana, suggests a calculated strategy rather than a genuine shift.
The state Congress chief further asserted that Saini faces a significant conflict of interest regarding the long-standing water disputes between the two states. “He will need to answer several questions that people of Punjab have in their mind,” Warring noted, questioning what stand the Haryana Chief Minister would take on contentious water issues while campaigning across the border.
Warning the BJP against attempting to introduce communal tensions into the state’s political fabric, Warring stated that religious symbolism would fail to appeal to the local electorate. He maintained that Punjabis have never voted along communal lines and warned that the BJP’s current approach demonstrates how disconnected its leadership is from the ground reality in Punjab.
