Bhagwant, a hero in hills too, for his satirical acts taking dig at opponents

SANGRUR/RUDRAPUR: It is not only his home constituency of Sangrur but satirist turned Neta Bhagwant Mann has many takers in the Terai region of Uttrakhand. The hilly and semi hilly areas of Nanital-Udham Singh Nagar might have vastly different from Sangrur but certain similarities got the comedian to campaign for Aam Admi Party candidate Bali Singh Cheema and due to his satirical acts Bhagwant is getting many takers. The over 2 lakh Punjabi population in the Terai region has made Bhagwant an instant Hero even at alien place as his you tube videos taking dig at political opponents had reached the hills before him.

As for similarities, like Bhagwant, Balli Singh Cheema is also very popular among hilly people due to his poems especially the revolutionary ones. Cheema like Bhagwant is also contesting against two sitting MPs, one Lok Sabha member KC Singh Baba of Congress and Rajya Sabha member Bhagat Singh Koshiyari of BJP. Bhagwant contested from Sangrur in Punjab against sitting Lok Sabha member Vijay Inder Singla of Congress and Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of SAD-BJP.

'Le Mashale chal pade hain log mere gaon ke, ab andhera jeet lenge log mere gaon ke', a revolutionary poem by Balli Singh Cheema might be having many takers but now as Bhagwant is here to hot up the political scene his stirring acts are getting much more takers and his satirist one liners are becoming rage here", said Rudrapur resident Balwant Singh. "When he campaigns and tells inspiring jokes he gets big applause. I got a lot of support from Bhagwant Mann' visit to campaign", said Balli Singh talking to Times of India over phone.

"The similarities in sufferings of people, unemployment, poverty and uncertainties over lands of Punjabi farmers settled there made me to campaign for Cheema in this terai region. Not targeting the Punjabis alone I like to converse in Hindi to reach out to local populace and all are taking keen interest in my speeches", said Bhagwant over phone from Rudarpur in Nanital.

Even his highly sore throat is not coming in the way to raise his voice for the nation. I will get it treated later but once the opportunity to make people realize to tech Congress-BJP a lesson for indulging in anti people policies, the diagnose of national problems will become impossible.

Bhagwant' next target is Varanasi where party chief Arvind Kejriwal is contesting against BJP PM pick Narendra Modi. "After campaigning closes on Monday in Nainital I will reach Varanasi to stand by Arvind", said Bhagwant.

Udham Singh Nagar police had on April 21 arrested Balli along with 16 supporters for code violation for fitting two loud speakers on his vehicle without permission. He was sent to judicial custody for 14 days and was lodged in Haldwani jail. Though 14 of his accomplices were let off but Balli had refused to get bail and AAP workers carried out the campaign while he was in jail for a week. After workers insisted, he got bail on April 28 and his campaign got momentum. Balli had in 2012 got the prestigious Gangasharan Singh Puraskar for outstanding contribution in Hindi literature from President Pratibha Patil. His 'Le Mashale' poem had become virtual anthem for statehood campaign in year 2000.