PM Modi to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar on February 1
Dera Sachkhand Ballan is led by Sant Niranjan Dass, who was recently named among Padma Shri awardees for 2026
PTC Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar on Sunday (February 1), a move that is being seen as politically significant ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for next year. The visit was confirmed by Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu while speaking to the media on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister will attend the 649th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Ravidas, which are being held on the same day. Traditionally, PM Modi marks Guru Ravidas Jayanti by visiting Seer Govardhan in Varanasi, the saint’s birthplace and part of the Prime Minister’s own parliamentary constituency. However, this time, the decision to visit Dera Ballan in Punjab is being viewed as a strategic outreach to the state’s sizeable Dalit population, which accounts for nearly 34 per cent of the electorate.
Dera Sachkhand Ballan holds immense religious importance for the Ravidassia community and is led by Sant Niranjan Dass. Notably, Sant Niranjan Dass was recently named among the Padma Shri awardees for this year.
About two months ago, Prime Minister Modi and Sant Niranjan Dass had also met in New Delhi. The Dera chief was accompanied by senior BJP leaders, including former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander, BJP state general secretary Tarun Chugh and former Union Minister of State Vijay Sampla.