‘Is it 1 nation, 1 husband scheme?': Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's sindoor dig sparks BJP outrage

Time of India

2 days ago

Chandigarh:
chief minister
on Tuesday accused the
of turning "sindoor" (vermilion) into a joke and asked if it was a "one nation, one husband" scheme, eliciting a sharp reaction from the BJP, which accused the AAP leader of "mocking"
.
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Replying to a question about the Ludhiana West assembly seat byelection, Mann said BJP was seeking votes in the name of Operation Sindoor. "These people have turned 'sindoor' into a joke. They are sending sindoor to every home. If it comes to your house, will you apply 'sindoor' in (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's name? Is this a 'one nation, one husband' scheme?" Mann said.
Mann was briefing media after a meeting of the state cabinet.
Later, Mann added in a press statement that the BJP's Operation Sindoor tactic wouldn't sway voters, as people wouldn't be fooled by such moves. He called these actions mere "theatrics" that the citizens of the state and country would never fall for. Mann said it was ironic the BJP and Centre were "sending sindoor to every household without any logical reason".
Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal termed the remark shameful.
In a post on X, he accused Mann of mocking Operation Sindoor. "There is no BJP activity of sending sindoor to every household. The name Operation Sindoor was used because terrorists were killing Hindus after checking their religion — sindoor was a marker they used to identify women. This operation was about terrorism, martyrdom, and the protection of Indian lives.
But how would Bhagwant Mann, a man with zero sensitivity, understand that?" he said.
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Union minister of state Ravneet Bittu demanded an unconditional apology from Mann and described his remarks as "crass". "I never expected Mann to stoop so low by mocking the widows of Pahalgam using the disgraceful phrase 'one nation, one husband'," he said.
AAP spokesperson Neel Garg defended Mann, saying the right to sindoor belonged only to a husband and not a political party. "BJP says it will distribute sindoor to every home.
I ask: does the BJP now have a right even over a woman's sindoor? Is this the BJP's idea of respect to women? In Hindu culture, sindoor is a symbol of affection, dedication, and marital bliss, not a political gimmick. But the BJP has turned even this into a PR event.
A woman's sindoor is her dignity, not a plea for votes. Sindoor is given only by her husband, not by the BJP," he added.
BJP Ludhiana West candidate Jiwan Gupta is in a four-way contest in the bypoll and faces AAP's Sanjeev Arora, Congress' Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and Shiromani Akali Dal's Parupkar Singh Ghumman.
Appeal for border areas
Mann said during a recent meeting of NITI Aayog, he asked the Centre to set up colleges and industries in border areas. He said it was imperative to give a major push to the development of border districts of the state that lagged due to several reasons. He added he also flagged the issue of problems being faced by the farmers of the state having their land between the international border and the fence.
'Locals have right to be upset'
Replying to a question about residents of Bhai Bakhtaur village in Bathinda district putting up a poster that declared their village was sale, Mann said locals had a right to be upset. "We launched a massive anti-drug campaign. In between, there was tension at the border and Centre's autocratic directives on the BBMB. There is no patronage to those selling drugs, unlike the previous practice of ministers supporting the drug trade," he said.
'Paddy sowing on, can't debate'
Asked about Kisan Mazdoor Sangarash Committee (KMSC) president Sarvan Singh Pandher expressing readiness for a meeting with the state govt, CM Mann responded, "Right now, I am more concerned about agriculture as paddy sowing season just began." He added, "For them, the priority might be to hold debates... I held meetings for over seven hours with them in the past."
Call for water pact review
Mann stated that due to frequent changes in water levels, every water agreement should be reviewed every 25 years. He asserted that Punjab had no spare water to share with other states, vowing that "even a single drop of water will not be given to anyone". Responding to a question if Ferozepur farmers were receiving water diverted from Pakistan, Mann said the area wasn't getting water from Hussainiwala previously anyway, as "that water only goes to Rajasthan feeder".
He clarified that the Centre only stopped water to Pakistan from the Sind and Chenab rivers, adding: "If they give it to us, we will distribute it."