12 November 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab’s Jalandhar district has become the centre of a growing dispute between two groups of devotees reportedly aligned with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The disagreement has emerged over the proposed starting point of the BJP’s Samarasta Sankalp Yatra and the management of the religious institution.
The controversy comes ahead of the 650th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Ravidas, scheduled for February 20, 2027. The BJP is planning to organise a yatra beginning from Jalandhar on November 18 and concluding in Varanasi on December 3, with the programme expected to cover several states.
According to reports, one group of devotees wants the yatra to begin from Dera Sachkhand Ballan, while another group has objected to the religious institution being associated with a political programme. The disagreement has brought attention to the relationship between political parties and influential religious institutions in Punjab.
Disagreement Over Yatra Starting Point
The proposed Samarasta Sankalp Yatra is being organised as part of the celebrations marking the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas.
The BJP plans to begin the journey from Jalandhar on November 18 and conclude it in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on December 3. Varanasi holds special religious significance for the Ravidassia community as it is regarded as the birthplace of Guru Ravidas.
The yatra is expected to pass through Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.
In Punjab, the proposed route includes districts with significant Dalit populations, including Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur and Muktsar.
The BJP is reportedly planning a large gathering at the launch event, with party national president Nitin Nabin expected to attend.
A section of BJP-aligned Ravidassia devotees wants the yatra to be flagged off from Dera Ballan. However, devotees associated with AAP have opposed the proposal, arguing that the dera should not become part of political activities.
The opposing group has suggested that the event should instead begin from Guru Ravidas Dham in Buta Mandi or another suitable location.
BJP Says Event May Be Held Near Dera
Punjab BJP SC Morcha president and former MLA Sheetal Angural has clarified the party’s position regarding the proposed launch.
He said the BJP wanted the starting point to be near Dera Ballan rather than inside the religious institution itself. He also indicated that the party could consider shifting the launch event to an area near Shri Khuralgarh Sahib.
According to Angural, the programme is intended to involve the wider Sant Samaj and community members.
The possibility of changing the venue comes amid objections from devotees who believe that religious institutions should remain separate from political activities.
The final venue and arrangements for the launch remain important issues ahead of the proposed November 18 programme.
Questions Raised Over Dera Management
Apart from the yatra dispute, questions have also been raised regarding the internal management of Dera Sachkhand Ballan.
Lawyers LM Gulati and Sonia Tanwar have alleged that two trustees, Hardev Heer and Babbu, are exercising considerable influence over the institution’s financial and administrative affairs.
They have also claimed that Sant Niranjan Dass, the 85-year-old head of the dera, is not being kept informed about certain important matters.
The lawyers further alleged that devotees, particularly those travelling from Haryana, were facing difficulties in meeting the dera chief.
These allegations have added another dimension to the ongoing controversy, with questions being raised about access to the religious leader and the functioning of the institution.
However, the allegations have been rejected by Satpal Virdi, former general secretary of the Dera Ballan Trust.
Virdi described the claims as baseless and maintained that Sant Niranjan Dass was fit and continued to meet devotees regularly. He also said that Dera Ballan remained politically neutral and welcomed leaders from all political parties.
There has been no independently established finding confirming the allegations concerning the management of the dera.
Sant Mandeep Dass’ Transfer Adds to Tensions
Another development linked to the controversy involves preacher Sant Mandeep Dass, who was shifted from Dera Ballan to its Sirsagarh branch near Ambala approximately a month ago.
About a week after the transfer, the dera announced a boycott of Sant Mandeep Dass and his supporter Jassi Talhan, a Dalit activist.
A section of AAP-aligned devotees has alleged that the preacher was sidelined because of pressure from the BJP-aligned group.
These allegations have further deepened differences among the devotees. However, the competing claims regarding the circumstances surrounding the transfer and boycott remain disputed.
The developments have brought the internal affairs of the religious institution into public discussion.
Dera Ballan’s Importance in Punjab
Dera Sachkhand Ballan holds considerable religious and social significance for the Ravidassia community, particularly in Punjab’s Doaba region.
Located near Jalandhar, the institution has a large following among devotees in Punjab and other parts of India, as well as among overseas communities.
Sant Niranjan Dass has been an important religious figure for the community. His interactions with political leaders have also attracted public attention over the years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Dera Ballan, and Sant Niranjan Dass was conferred the Padma Shri. These developments have brought additional attention to the institution.
Despite visits from leaders across the political spectrum, the dera’s representatives have maintained that the institution is politically neutral.
Political Attention Ahead of Punjab Elections
The dispute has emerged at a time when political parties are increasingly engaging with influential religious and social institutions ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Dera Ballan has a significant following in the Doaba region, making its public activities and relationship with political representatives a subject of wider political interest.
Both AAP and BJP supporters have become involved in the current disagreement, although the positions taken by individual devotees should not automatically be considered the official positions of the political parties or the dera management.
The controversy has also raised questions about maintaining the separation between religious activities and political programmes.
With the Samarasta Sankalp Yatra scheduled to begin on November 18, attention will remain on the final launch venue and how the organisers address the objections raised by sections of the sangat.
For now, the dispute over the proposed yatra, allegations concerning internal management and differences among devotees have placed Dera Sachkhand Ballan in the middle of a wider religious and political debate in Punjab.