Jalandhar: Differences between Nakodar Dera officials over control of the Dera
Jalandhar: Four months after former BJP MP from northwest Delhi Hans Raj Hans left the custodianship of the famous Dera Lal Badshah in Nakodar, a fresh controversy has cropped up in the midst of the ongoing three-day Urs fair. The controversy has led to the district administration appointing the Nakodar tehsildar as the receiver for donations at the Dera. Sufi singer Hans Raj had visited the Dera on Thursday evening to attend the traditional flag ceremony but was not allowed to preside over it by members of the new committee led by chairman Dimmi Gill and locals. He reportedly returned without performing at the fair. Today, for the second day, the fair is witnessing over 50,000 visitors daily and most of the followers are from the Valmiki community.
A member of the new committee said Hans Raj should either remain involved in politics or focus on the Dera. “He cannot be allowed to do both. Four months ago, he himself handed over the keys of the Dera, registration documents of its properties, silver jewellery and other valuable donations of the Dera to us. But his supporters have come back and are alleging that the keys were taken from us under pressure. But we have a video to prove that it was his voluntary decision,” Gill said. Those supporting Hans mainly include AAP leaders, including local MLA Inderjit Kaur Mann and Valmiki leaders Chandan Grewal and Vijay Danav. Danav joined the AAP last month. Members of the new committee alleged that Hans Raj was trying to use the support of the state government and local administration to take back custody of the Dera.
“He had behaved in a similar manner in 2014 too when he had left the Dera after some allegations were levelled against him,” they alleged. They said he has come back to claim the Dera ever since he lost the election from the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said, “We were not aware of the ongoing dispute at the Dera till we received permission to hold a mela from two groups, both claiming to be the patrons. We finally decided to appoint a receiver. After the mela is over, we will call both the parties and take a decision on merit.” When contacted, Hans Raj said he is still the chairman of the committee. “I agree, I can technically do one thing – singing or becoming a saint or doing politics. For this reason, I went to the dera yesterday evening to pay obeisance and came back after that. I have no dispute with anyone. I did not protest there as I had some programme beforehand. Even today, I am busy with some party work,” he said.
