Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Friday, 17 July declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has never arrived in Punjab without delivering concrete development for the state, speaking at a public gathering in Jalandhar held in the presence of the Prime Minister and senior party leadership.

Key Announcements and Inaugurations

Dhillon noted that during the visit, PM Modi inaugurated projects worth hundreds of crores of rupees for the state. He thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of Punjab's people, adding that the gesture reflected the Centre's continued commitment to the region's growth.

Notably, PM Modi arrived wearing a green turban — widely recognised as a symbol of Punjab's farming community — and smiled warmly as Dhillon spoke of farmers' welfare.

India-EU Trade Agreement and Punjab's Gains

Dhillon highlighted that the India-European Union trade agreement would open doors for Punjab's key export sectors. Under the deal, products including hosiery and bicycles from Ludhiana, sports goods and leather from Jalandhar, machinery from Batala, and basmati rice, fruits and vegetables from across Punjab would gain tariff-free access to 27 European countries.

He also credited the Modi government for ensuring that wheat and dairy products were kept out of the trade agreement, protecting Punjab's farmers from potential competition. Dhillon claimed that under previous Congress governments, Minimum Support Price (MSP) increases for wheat and paddy were limited to ₹10–15, whereas the current dispensation has delivered substantially higher hikes, reportedly without farmers having to demand them.

BJP's Attack on AAP Government

The event turned sharply political, with senior BJP leaders training their fire on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. Dhillon claimed Punjab had slipped from first to 18th position in development rankings under AAP, while Uttar Pradesh had climbed from 20th to second in the same period — though he did not specify the ranking source.

Former state BJP President Sunil Jakhar alleged that the AAP government had undermined constitutional and democratic values, saying Punjab was under an 'evil eye.' Former state President and MLA Ashwani Sharma blamed the AAP administration for the distress faced by youth, farmers, traders and industries, and described AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal as a 'fake Sanatani.'

2027 Punjab Elections in Sight

Dhillon set the stage for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections, asserting that only a BJP government in the state could eliminate drugs, gangsters and unemployment. He invoked the legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Sarkar-e-Khalsa, saying Punjab would get governance inspired by that model under BJP in 2027.

On the national canvas, Dhillon pointed out that India had only two mobile manufacturing units before 2014, a figure that has reportedly risen to around 300 under PM Modi. He also noted that India has grown to become the world's fifth-largest economy with a growth rate of around seven per cent, even as many global economies face recessionary pressures.

The gathering was addressed by several prominent leaders including former Punjab BJP Presidents Shwait Malik and Sunil Jakhar, Manpreet Singh Badal, Preneet Kaur, former Union Minister Vijay Sampla, Avinash Rai Khanna, Manoranjan Kalia, Ashok Mittal, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu. All eyes now turn to whether the Centre's project launches and the EU trade deal benefits translate into electoral momentum for BJP ahead of the 2027 state polls.