Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi has attacked the Bhagwant Mann government over its religious programmes. In a sharply worded Facebook post, Gandhi targeted the AAP leadership as "Kejri-Bhagwant & Co" and questioned the use of taxpayers' money for what he described as its Hindu outreach efforts.
What Gandhi Specifically Objected To
The MP said his family works day and night and pays taxes so that the government can provide better healthcare, education, employment, and infrastructure to people in the state. Gandhi specifically objected to programmes such as "Ek Shaam Shiv Ke Naam" and "Hamare Ram," as well as free religious pilgrimages to places including Shri Khatu Shyam, Salasar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Shri Hazur Sahib.
Arguing that religion is a matter of an individual's personal faith, Gandhi said the state should not promote or patronise one religion over another. He also warned that such state support could divide communities and encourage communalism. His criticism comes at a time when the Bhagwant Mann government and AAP have increasingly made religious and cultural outreach a part of their public messaging.
A Notable Silence From Traditional Parties
Politically, what's striking is the relative silence of Punjab's two traditional political parties, Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal. Neither party has, so far, made the AAP government's religious programmes a sustained political issue, which makes Gandhi's intervention significant even within his own party, since the Patiala MP is raising an issue that Congress, as an organisation, hasn't aggressively taken up.
Why the Political Stakes Are Higher Than They Look
The political stakes here run deeper because Congress has traditionally had a strong connection with Punjab's Hindu electorate. Since the days of former chief minister Beant Singh, the party has counted a substantial section of Hindu voters among its traditional support base.
That equation has shifted over the years, with the BJP seeking to consolidate the Hindu vote, particularly in urban Punjab, while AAP appears increasingly keen to expand beyond its traditional political constituency ahead of the 2027 Assembly election. This raises a sharper question for Congress, if AAP is attempting to make inroads among Hindu voters, why aren't Congress and the Akali Dal confronting that strategy more aggressively?
AAP's Response
For AAP, this outreach could be part of a broader attempt to reshape its political identity in Punjab. When asked for its response to Gandhi's criticism, an AAP spokesperson refused to comment specifically on the Congress MP's statement. However, the party defended its programmes more generally, stating, "Government-funded pilgrimages fulfil people's dreams. Just as people draw inspiration from Lord Ram, the teachings and lives of the Gurus can guide our children towards a better society."
Gandhi's post has therefore opened up a debate that goes beyond one religious programme, putting the spotlight on the larger electoral contest for Punjab's Hindu voters ahead of 2027.
FAQs
Q1. What specifically did Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi criticise?
Gandhi criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government's use of taxpayer money for religious programmes like "Ek Shaam Shiv Ke Naam," "Hamare Ram," and government-funded pilgrimages to sites including Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Shri Khatu Shyam.
Q2. How has AAP responded to this criticism?
AAP defended its programmes, stating that government-funded pilgrimages fulfil people's aspirations and that religious teachings can guide children toward a better society, though it declined to comment directly on Gandhi's specific statement.
Q3. Why is this issue considered politically significant beyond just one programme?
The controversy reflects a broader contest for Punjab's Hindu voters ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, with Congress traditionally holding strong support among this electorate while AAP appears to be expanding its own outreach in this direction.