Leaders of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Sidhupur) have made serious allegations against the government and a major political party, claiming a coordinated effort is underway to fracture their organization. This comes just a day after a splinter group announced a parallel faction.
Allegations of Political Conspiracy to Break the Union
At a press conference held in Jalandhar on Wednesday, BKU (Ekta-Sidhupur) president Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and senior vice-president Jasbir Singh Sidhupur led a strong rebuttal against reports of an internal split. They were flanked by state and district unit leaders, presenting a united front.
The leaders pointed fingers directly at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and, by extension, the BJP. They alleged that Dalbir Singh Sidhupur, who was announced as the convener of the new parallel faction, had only recently joined the SAD. "BJP is working through Akali Dal to target and break our union so that the saffron party does not face any roadblocks in implementing its agenda," alleged Lovejeet Singh, president of the union's Moga unit.
Dismissing the New Faction and Clarifying Leadership
The BKU leadership vehemently dismissed the legitimacy of the new group. They stated that Dalbir Singh Sidhupur, son of the union's late president Pashaura Singh Sidhupur, was not even a primary member of their organization. Furthermore, they revealed that the individuals who proclaimed him as convener had already been expelled from the union.
Jasbir Singh Sidhupur, who is the nephew of the late president, emphasized that the leadership was not meant to be a family legacy. "Pashaura Singh himself picked Dallewal to lead the organisation, and there was no place for keeping the leadership in the family," he stated, solidifying Dallewal's position as the chosen successor.
Farm Issues and Religious Concerns as the Core Motive
The union leaders connected the alleged conspiracy to their unwavering stance on key farmer demands. They claimed both the Central and Punjab governments aim to weaken their union because they have remained firm on these issues. "A section wants to go soft on these issues, and the govt is fomenting trouble," they said.
President Jagjeet Singh Dallewal also linked the targeting to his vocal stance on the sensitive issue of the 328 missing ‘saroops’ (copies) of Guru Granth Sahib. He claimed that after holding a press conference on the matter, an SAD leader posted a video targeting their union.
Dallewal further alleged that a book published by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) contained objectionable remarks reflecting RSS views, which the SGPC was endorsing. "Collusion between RSS and SGPC is apparent," he alleged. He concluded that their union is being targeted for its stands on both farm issues and the missing saroops, with the newly announced convener being a recent Akali Dal recruit.
