Chandigarh:- Punjab BJP has now hinted at ending VIP culture from the state. BJP's new in-charge Dr. Satish Poonia has laid the foundation for this today. It remains to be seen whether Punjab BJP makes the elimination of VIP culture a part of its agenda in its election manifesto or not. Dr. Satish Poonia has issued an appeal before starting his Punjab tour which is related to staying away from VIP culture.
Punjab BJP in-charge Dr. Satish Poonia has appealed that no bouquets should be offered to him in his welcome nor should any kind of gift be given. The function should also be kept simple. He will avoid expensive gifts. Poonia said that it would be good to stay away from this culture and help a poor child, do welfare work in the disabled or orphanages. He said that instead of a bouquet, they should be given only one flower.
Today, when Dr. Poonia reached Chandigarh airport, BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon arrived to welcome him. The people welcoming him did not have bouquets but one flower each, due to which the effect of Dr. Poonia's appeal was also visible in the welcome program. Dr. Poonia's saffron turban was decorated at the airport itself.
It should be remembered that the Aam Aadmi Party had its own agenda of ending the VIP culture. AAP had promised to end all the red light culture, gift culture, gunman culture etc.
The AAP government had issued a letter in December 2022 talking about the stay of VIPs in Circuit Houses, but later not all VIPs turned to Circuit Houses. Important personalities of AAP stayed in five-star hotels in Punjab. The late Chief Minister Beant Singh used to stay in Circuit House during his tenure. Amarinder Singh had also announced the end of the red light culture on March 18, 2017 in his first cabinet. The Akali-BJP coalition government had announced the end of the slave culture during its time. The Amarinder government had announced to make the property details of MLAs and ministers public every year after assuming the Chief Minister's chair. The same thing was repeated by the Aam Aadmi Party government. No government was ending the VIP culture. Even today, police routes are set up in Punjab during the visits of VIPs.