From ceding management of the get together to Hindus in Punjab and endorsing Sanatan Seva Samiti to contemplating introducing the Hindu Temples Act, the Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) has made a number of makes an attempt to succeed in out to Hindu voters within the Sikh-majority state. Now, a 12 months earlier than subsequent 12 months’s parliamentary elections, this get together Wager on performs starring actor Ashutosh Rana.
The Bhagwant Mann-led cupboard on Tuesday authorized a proposal to stage 40 free reveals of Humale Ram, a retelling of the Ramayana, in numerous cities throughout the state. Beforehand, every efficiency of the play was priced at Rs 799, however Finance Minister Harpal Cheema stated on Tuesday that the schedule of performances was being finalized.
“The thought is to construct a religio-cultural platform that can assist keep the get together’s visibility amongst Hindus,” the AAP chief stated. Though the get together formally claims that the proposal was accepted solely for the aim of “selling cultural heritage and social concord”.
In accordance with the Nationwide Heart for Performing Arts, the play options a number of scenes from the Ramayana which have by no means been carried out on stage earlier than. It begins from the angle of Lord Ram’s sons, Rubu and Kush, after their mom, the goddess Sita, “takes her final refuge within the arms of Bhoomi.” The offended sons ask Lord Ram a query about their mom.
The transfer to stage the play is seen as an try by the AAP to curb rising assist for the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering amongst Hindus, who make up about 38% of Punjab’s inhabitants and are primarily concentrated in city facilities akin to Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala.
What describes outreach?
AAP’s thorough Hindu actions started with the appointment of Aman Arora, a Hindu, because the state president in November 2024. Mr. Arora replaces Mr. Mann, a Sikh, who has held the place since January 2019. The transfer by the get together, historically seen as drawing assist from Sikh and rural voters, was seen as an try to increase its attain amongst Hindus in addition to city areas, the place the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering is seen as gaining power.
Though nonetheless weak within the Meeting, the BJP’s vote share elevated from 6.6% within the 2022 Meeting polls to greater than 18% within the 2024 Sabah elections. In the meantime, AAP’s vote share fell to 26.2% from the 42% it secured within the meeting elections.
“Because the Lok Sabha polls, AAP is assured of its assist base in rural areas. Nonetheless, we’re a little bit nervous concerning the city Hindu vote,” stated an AAP chief, including that if the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) be a part of forces, the get together might be pushed additional into the nook.
Across the similar time as Arora’s appointment, the get together additionally endorsed the newly fashioned Sanatan Seva Samiti led by Deepak Bali, with AAP leaders together with Arora and state minister Varinder Goyal collaborating in get together occasions.
The proposal to stage a free present by Humale Ram is alleged to have been the brainchild of Bali, who additionally served as tradition committee chairman and secretary-general of the Division of Tourism and Tradition. “There isn’t a Hindu patronage. We respect all communities and castes equally. AAP believes in inclusivity and wins the hearts of voters by means of good work and governance,” Bali stated.
In an extra transfer by the AAP seen as courting Hindus, Mann stated in Could 2025 that the federal government would introduce the Hindu Temples Act, giving temples the proper to handle their very own affairs with out authorities interference. The CM’s assurance got here after board chairman Mahant Ravikant Muni made repeated representations on the difficulty.
Such a legislation would reply to a long-standing demand of the Punjab Hindu Welfare Board, which has been in search of an autonomous physique to handle temples within the state since 2012.
In August final 12 months, the Mann authorities arrange 14 caste-based welfare boards, most of which catered to Hindu communities akin to Brahmins, Agarwals, Rajputs, Prajapatis, Kanojias, Swarnakars and Vimukt Jatis. Though some committees cowl a number of communities, such because the Saini Committee and the Ramgarhia Committee, and some committees cater to minorities, the emphasis on Hindu caste groupings has gone unnoticed.
AAP additionally seems at symbolic spiritual visibility as a part of its work. In late 2024, the group organized a Shukrana Yatra (Thanksgiving Procession) from Patiala to Amritsar, stopping at distinguished Hindu temples akin to Kali Mata Temple, Durjana Temple and Ram Tirath. Mann himself visited a number of Hindu temples throughout the Yatra.
