Dera Ballan Controversy: Political Tensions Rise Ahead of BJP’s Yatra in Punjab

A controversy has erupted at Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar ahead of the BJP’s proposed ‘Samrasta Sankalp Yatra’, scheduled to begin from Jalandhar on November 18. The disagreement centres on the proposed starting point of the yatra, the involvement of the dera in the event and differences among two rival groups of devotees over the management of the religious institution.
 

The yatra will pass through Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi before concluding in Varanasi on December 3. It is being organised in connection with the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, which will be celebrated on February 20 next year.
 

In Punjab, the yatra is planned to cover several major cities with a significant Dalit population, including both Sikh and Hindu communities. The proposed route includes Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur and Muktsar. Varanasi, where the yatra will conclude, is the birthplace of Guru Ravidas and also the Lok Sabha constituency represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 

The controversy has brought two traditionally rival groups of Dera Ballan devotees into conflict. One group claims association with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), while the other is said to be aligned with the BJP. Their differences reportedly concern their proximity to Dera head Sant Niranjan Dass and the manner in which the institution should be managed.
 

BJP-supporting Ravidassia devotees have demanded that the yatra should begin from Dera Ballan. BJP national president Nitin Nabin is also expected to attend the event. However, some devotees perceived to be supportive of the AAP are opposed to giving the dera a political colour. They have suggested that the yatra should instead start from Guru Ravidas Dham in Boota Mandi or another location.
 

Punjab BJP SC Morcha president Sheetal Angural said the party wanted to begin the yatra from an area near Dera Ballan rather than from inside the dera premises. He also indicated that Khuralgarh Sahib could be considered as a possible venue for the inaugural programme.
 

Meanwhile, two lawyers, LM Gulati and Sonia Tanwar, have raised questions about the management of the dera. They have alleged that two trustees, Hardev Heer and Babbu, are exercising unusual influence over financial matters and that 85-year-old Sant Niranjan Dass is being kept away from important decisions.
 

However, Satpal Virdi, former general secretary of the trust, has rejected these allegations as baseless.
 

Another reported reason behind the differences is the transfer of Sant Mandeep Dass from Dera Ballan to its Sirsagarh branch near Ambala. His subsequent boycott, along with his supporter Jassi Talhan, has also reportedly contributed to the ongoing tensions.
 

Sant Niranjan Dass's close association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also become a subject of discussion amid the controversy. The dera head has previously been honoured with the Padma Shri award.
 

With the BJP's proposed yatra approaching, the disagreements over its starting point and the internal affairs of Dera Ballan have brought the religious institution into the centre of political and organisational debate.