Partition Day event turns awkward as BJP MP Rao Inderjit flags ‘community-specific’ politics

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) event commemorating the harrowing events of Partition in Gurugram, Haryana turned into a revealing glimpse into the inner workings of the party's internal discord. The State-level Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas program aimed to unite various BJP leaders to remember the shared history, but it quickly became a platform for BJP MP Rao Inderjit Singh to question the event's organization and inclusivity.

Mr. Singh, Union Minister of State for Planning and a member of Parliament, publicly voiced his discontent, stating that local leaders had not been invited to the gathering, which he argued was being portrayed as a "community-specific" event. He criticized the organizers for not including local representatives, comparing the situation to events held in other BJP strongholds like Panipat and Karnal, where key figures would be present.

The Gurugram MP further emphasized that Haryana had been the first state to have a Punjabi Chief Minister and that local politicians, such as Manohar Lal, had secured their positions with the support of people from all communities. He invoked the city's political history, highlighting that Gurugram's first Punjabi MLA, Dharambir Gaba, had been elected multiple times with the backing of diverse communities, rather than just Punjabi voters.

However, Mr. Singh's remarks were cut short when he was informed that he had not received a formal invitation from the organizers, the Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Nyas. His staff pointed out the absence of an official invitation when the Chief Minister's Office reached out to confirm his attendance. In response, the BJP's Haryana president Archana Gupta intervened, informing Mr. Singh about Nabin's presence at the event and inviting him to join.

The organizers did issue an invitation letter, but it did not mention Singh's name, while a local administration notice did include him as a guest of honor.

The controversy surrounding the event raised questions about the BJP's internal dynamics and the extent to which the party's internal politics may influence even its commemorative events.