Tag: Lakha Sidhana

  • Punjab polls: Gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana wants people to read newspapers, open libraries

    By PTI

    BATHINDA: Gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana is in the fray from the Maur Assembly seat in Punjab’s Bathinda district and appeals to people to read newspapers, pool funds to open libraries while saying he wants to promote the Punjabi language.

    Sidhana is one of the accused in the last year’s Delhi Republic Day violence and has been fielded by the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, a political outfit of various farmer bodies. Forty-two-year-old Sidhana, who is facing several criminal cases, was quite active in the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s farm laws, which were later repealed.

    “I am a fearless person who can raise voice for my people. You all have seen my contribution to the farmers’ agitation,” says Sidhana wherever he goes for campaigning.

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    Sidhana invariably mentions the need to promote “maa boli Punjabi” (Punjabi language) and Punjabiyat. He and his supporters had even blackened signboards written in Hindi and English in Bathinda and had asked the authorities to use Punjabi as primary language.

    He is demanding Punjabi be made a compulsory subject in all convent schools of the state. During campaigning, Sidhana appeals to villagers to read newspapers and pool funds to open libraries. He also tries to create awareness among people about air pollution and depleting underground water.

    He asks people to fight against private healthcare facilities for overcharging patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Police complaints were filed when I made the doctors not charge exorbitantly from the poor. Similarly, I resolved matrimonial disputes where innocent women were harassed by their in-laws,” he claims.

    In the same breath, he also does not shy away from discussing his criminal past. “I suffered three bullet injuries during electioneering about a decade ago. After having a brush with death, I realised my blunder. I deeply regret my criminal past,” Sidhana says.

    While appreciating AAP’s CM face Bhagwant Mann, he quickly expresses his strong difference with Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal. “Kejriwal wants to control Punjab, whereas we need a leader from our own state for good governance. I admire Bhagwant. But he is powerless before an autocrat like Kejriwal,” he alleges.

    Former AAP MP from Patiala, Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, who came out in support of state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu recently, also canvassed for Sidhana.

    A supporter, Amarpreet Singh (65), who has come all the way from Uttarakhand to campaign for him, says, “I feel he is the future. He is always worried about the community’s wellbeing. Punjab and Punjabiyat is what he is fighting for.”

    His followers and friends remember him as a tireless crusader against drug addiction. They say his fear has resulted in his village being free of drugs. “Perhaps this is the only village in Punjab where synthetic drug is out of reach,” says another supporter Arsh.

    Sidhana gets a warm reception from villagers, mostly the youth. He undertakes door-to-door campaigns to greet the elderly. He banks on his role during the farmers’ agitation. At one of the gatherings in Maur, a woman sought votes for Sidhana, saying he was the one who paid the fee for her daughter who is now well settled in Germany.

    In 2012, Sidhana had contested his first election unsuccessfully from Rampura Phul Assembly segment as a candidate of People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) that was floated by Manpreet Singh Badal before it was merged with the Congress.

    The Shiromani Akali Dal has fielded ex-MP Jagmeet Singh Brar while the Congress party’s candidate is Manoj Bala Bansal and AAP has nominated Sukhveer Singh. The BJP has fielded Dayal Sodhi.

  • Lakha Sidhana, farmer leaders booked by Chandigarh Police

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh police has booked alleged gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana, wanted by Delhi Police in the case of R Day violence at Red Fort, and many farmer leaders on several charges including rioting during a protest march on Saturday.

    Five FIRs have been registered at police stations of Sector 3, Sector 17 and Sector 36, police said on Sunday.

    Police have booked Sidhana, and several farmer leaders, including Baldev Singh Sirsa, and their supporters on several charges including rioting, assault on public servants and obstructing them in performing their duties.

    Protesting farmers on Saturday had broken police barriers at the Chandigarh-Mohali border while trying to head towards the Punjab Governor house.

    The Chandigarh police had even used a water cannon to disperse them.

    During the protest, Lakha Sidhana, who was booked for his alleged involvement in violence at the Red Fort on Republic Day, was also seen.

    Farmers had planned to march towards Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhavans here and submit a memorandum on June 26 to mark the completion of seven months of their agitation against the three new Central agri-marketing laws.

  • Republic Day violence: Key accused dares cops to arrest him

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH:  Wanted gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana, a key accused in the Red Fort violence, on Tuesday attended the farmers’ rally at the ancestral village of Punjab CM Amarinder Singh in Bathinda and challenged the Delhi Police to arrest him. He also exhorted the people not to allow Delhi Police to arrest youths involved in the Republic Day incidents.

    Addressing a rally in Mehraj, Sidhana told the people to gherao the Delhi Police personnel who attempted to arrest the youths.

    “The Union government was arresting the people of Punjab and announcing rewards on those aiding their arrest.” 

    He also requested the Dalit community to participate in the protest. During the rally, Sidhana was seated on the stage. The organisers dared the police to arrest him. After the rally, he sped away on a motorcycle. 

    The grandfather of farmer Navreet Singh, who died in Delhi on January 26, and a relative of Harbhagwan Singh, who had died in the Behbal Kalan firing, were also present at the rally, besides AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhawa and Yudhvir Manak, son of Punjabi singer Kuldeep Manak.

    The Delhi Police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information about Sidhana. He had on Saturday released a video urging Punjab’s youth to attend the farmers’ rally in Mehraj.

    Meanwhile, Delhi Police has arrested two more persons, including a prominent farmer leader, from Jammu for their alleged involvement in the Red Fort violence. Jammu and Kashmir United Kisan Front chairman Mohinder Singh and Mandeep Singh, were brought to Delhi for questioning.

  • Wanted for Republic Day violence, Lakha Sidhana attends rally in Bathinda

    By PTI
    BATHINDA: Gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana wanted in connection with the Republic Day violence in the national capital openly addressed a farmers’ rally here on Tuesday, warning the Punjab Police against cooperating with the Delhi Police.

    At the meeting in Bathinda’s Mehraj village, the state police was deployed to maintain law and order.

    When asked why the Punjab Police did not arrest him, Inspector General (Bathinda Range) Jaskaran Singh said their job was to maintain law and order.

    “As per law, we cannot do that as we have not registered a case,” he said.

    The Congress government in Punjab has been backing the agitation against the Centre’s farm laws enacted last year.

    The gangster-turned-activist had given the call for the public meeting last week.

    After addressing the gathering, Sidhana left the venue.

    Punjab Police personnel were deployed near the rally site in Mehraj village, which is the ancestral village of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

    Addressing the gathering, Sidhana said the event was called in support of the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws.

    He also asked people to “gherao” the Delhi Police personnel if they come to arrest the state youth, apparently referring to the Republic Day violence.

    He accused the Centre of trying to “create fear” in the minds of people with the arrest of youths with an intention of forcing them to withdraw from the agitation.

    “If Delhi Police personnel come to arrest anyone in Punjab, then make announcements in villages, gather crowds and gherao them,” he said.

    Sidhana further said if the Punjab Police cooperates with the Delhi Police in arresting youths or farmers in the state, then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will be held responsible for this.

    Sidhana also thanked people to come in large numbers for the rally on a very short notice.

    He asked farmers leaders to hold a programme at the Delhi borders in coming days and exhorted the youth to join the protest sites in large numbers.

    He asked people to stay united, saying this struggle can only be won with unity.

    Sidhana also appealed to the Dalits to join the farmers’ agitation.

    “This agitation is not of any religion or caste. It is a fight of everyone,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the BJP criticised Sidhana’s participation in the programme.

    Punjab BJP leader Harjit Singh Grewal said Sidhana attending a rally is the “most unfortunate” incident.

    “It should not have happened,” said Grewal.

    Slamming the Congress-led Punjab government over this issue, BJP leader Anil Sarin said, “A person who is wanted in the Red Fort incident is roaming freely in Punjab. I think there cannot be an unfortunate thing than this.”

    Thousands of protesters had clashed with police during the Republic Day violence.

    Many protesters reached the Red Fort and entered the monument, and some of them even hoisted religious flags on its domes.

    In a video that appeared on social media on Saturday, Sidhana had appealed to people to take part in the programme in large numbers.

    The former gangster had several cases registered against him in Punjab and was jailed many times.

    He had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 state assembly polls.

  • Republic Day violence accused Lakha Sidhana attends public meeting in Bathinda

    By PTI
    BATHINDA: Lakha Sidhana, who is wanted in connection with the violence in Delhi on Republic Day, on Tuesday attended a public meeting in Punjab’s Bathinda in support of the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s agri laws.

    A video clip showed him seated on the dais.

    The gangster-turned-activist had given a call for the public meeting in Bathinda’s Mehraj village last week.

    There was speculation whether Sidhana would take part in the public meeting as he is wanted by the Delhi Police for his alleged role in the violence that broke out during a tractor parade called by farmer unions on January 26 demanding the repeal of the agri laws.

    Thousands of protesters had clashed with the police during the violence.

    Many of the protesters reached the Red Fort and entered the monument, and some of them even hoisted religious flags on its domes and a flagstaff at the ramparts.

    In a video that appeared on social media on Saturday, Sidhana had appealed to people to take part in the programme in large numbers.

    The former gangster had several cases registered against him in Punjab and was jailed many times.

    He had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 state assembly polls.