Bollywood actor and BJP’s Gurdaspur candidate Sunny Deol took out a roadshow on Thursday from Dera Baba Nanak to Pathankot, evoking a massive response from people in the constituency.
The actor-turned-politician, who is contesting against Congress nominee and sitting MP Sunil Jakhar, started the roadshow after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and darshan asthan (for Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan) at the border town of Dera Baba Nanak. At the gurdwara, he was honoured by leaders of Akali Dal, BJP’s alliance partner in Punjab.
Wearing a light green-coloured headgear while accompanied by former state BJP president Kamal Sharma, the actor also visited the famous Shivala Shiv Mandir at Kalanaur town, Sri Bawa Lal Ji at Dhianpir and Pandori Dham at Talabpur village.
Talking to mediapersons, he said creating employment for the youth will be his main priority. “The most important issue is our youth. They are our foundation.”
As soon as the cavalcade reached Gurdaspur town at around 12 noon amid blistering heat, a large crowd thronged the route of the roadshow to have a glimpse of the actor. Sunny’s younger brother Bobby Deol and former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK joined him there. “We are happy to be here and we are very happy for getting such a response. We are getting a lot of love and we will continue to get it,” Bobby said.
People stood for one-and-half-hours on the roadsides, stairs, rooftops and raised places. The carcade reached at Kahnuwan Chowk at around 1.30pm. Chanting of slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Narendra Modi zindabad’ by the crowd, especially the youth, filled the air. People also showered flower petals on his vehicle from the rooftops.
As loudspeakers played famous songs and dialogues from the actor’s hit movies, he greeted people by waving at them and making victory sign. Many youths even tried to climb his truck to take selfie with him, but were stopped by police.
The roadshow also got a tremendous response in Dinanagar town from where it reached Bhoa before finally culminating at Pathankot at 8:45pm.
Meets soldiers’ kin at border village
After returning from Mumbai on Wednesday evening, Sunny, who played the role of an army major in movie ‘Border’, met the families of the soldiers killed fighting against the Pakistani troops at border village of Shadipur near Dinanagar. “I am not a hero as I only acted as a soldier. The real heroes are those who sacrificed their lives for the country,” he said.
Jakhar dares for debate, he declines
Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar invited Sunny Deol for a debate. “Welcome back to Gurdaspur, Sunny Deol. Before you leave for Mumbai again, I will like to invite you to debate various issues concerning this border belt,” said the state Congress president in a post on Facebook. Sunny declined his invite saying he does not believe in debates or mere talking.
