Bittu Remains in Union Cabinet; Kejriwal Announces Religious Programs

June

2026

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Union Minister for State for Railways and Food Processing Ravneet Singh Bittu's Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) term ended on 21 Jun. As he was not nominated for a second term by the BJP, he was ready to shift back to Panjab from Delhi. However, the union government did not drop Bittu from the council of ministers. Technically, Bittu can stay a minister for six months without being re-elected. Meanwhile, Bittu appeared before the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission (PSSCC) at the Panjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh on 24 Jun to tender a written apology for objectionable language he used during a confrontation with police personnel in Dhuri, Sangrur district on 26 May. He appeared before the PSSCC chairman, Jasvir Singh Garhi, on the third summons after missing two previous hearings, and expressed regret over the remarks that triggered the controversy. Accepting the apology, Garhi directed Bittu to pay obeisance at four religious shrines: Dera Brahmdas, Phillaur and Sachkhand Sri Dera Ballan, both in Jalandhar district, also Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and Sri Ram Tirath Temple in Amritsar city. Alongside, in a conversation at the Council of Foreign Relations at New York City, US, World Bank President, Ajay Banga highlighted the challenges facing urban and agricultural economies, noting that many traditional growth centers are undergoing significant changes. Referring to his home state Panjab, once regarded as India’s agricultural heartland, Banga said that young people today sell their family farmland, and receive substantial sums but often spend them quickly on consumer goods, and lifestyle expenses. Banga added, 'That is nothing compared to what there could have been if they had a chance for productivity; you need cooperatives, you need technology that gives farmers access to better seeds, better fertilizers.' Panjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon has now written to Banga, calling for a partnership with the government of India in agricultural diversification and financing rural entrepreneurship ecosystems in the state. Concurrently, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was recently in Panjab and announced a series of religious and cultural initiatives to woo primarily Hindu voters. The announcements include a USD 8.5M redevelopment of the Kali Mata Temple, Patiala; a grand temple dedicated to Mata Janaki (Sita), Luv and Kush (sons of Lord Ram and Sita) temple in Amritsar; expansion of the Mukh Mantri Teerath Yatra Yojana (Chief Minister’s Religious Pilgrimage Scheme); and free viewing of Ramayana-based theatrical production ‘Humare Ram’, starring actor Ashutosh Rana (earlier coverage).