Apparently due to sudden health complications just before boarding a plane from Delhi to Nagapur, Sant Nirmal Das Maharaj, a dalit Sikh leader from Jalandhar who was invited as chief guest for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS’s) foundation day event at its headquarters in Nagpur, had to miss the programme at the last hour.

RSS celebrates its foundation day during Vijay Dashmi every year.

Sant Nirmal Das is head of the influential Sant Pritam Dass Dera Babe Jaure in Raipur Rasoolpur village of Jalandhar district and is also the president of Shri Guru Ravidas Sadhu Sampradaye to which 300 small and big deras are associated in Punjab.

Sources said he missed the function due to opposition from the people his community who are the view that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has often talked of changes in the Constitution and a review of the existing reservation policy.

Sant Nirmal Das, however, told the Sunday Express after returning to Jalandhar from Delhi airport, “I was invited as chief guest there, but after reaching Delhi airport, I developed some health complications resulting in high blood pressure and sugar level, due to which the doctor advised me not to fly.”

“I spent a few hours in the hospital and returned,” he said, adding that he spoke to RSS leaders in Nagpur and regretted for not attending it. “They assured me to convey my message at the event,” said Sant Nirmal Das. RSS invite to Nirmal Das is being seen as an attempt to strengthen its base among dalit voters in Doaba, which has the largest dalit population in the country. It is learnt that in the history of 92 years, this was the first time RSS had invited any dalit leader on its foundation day.

Nirmal Das’s dera has both Ravidassia and Jat Sikh followers and he is visited by many political leaders ahead of polls.

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