Ravneet Singh Bittu Takes Oath as Minister of State in Modi’s Cabinet

Ravneet Singh Bittu, the former Ludhiana Member of Parliament who recently switched to the BJP, has been sworn in as a Minister of State in the Modi government, fulfilling a promise made by former Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a rally in Ludhiana.

Despite losing in the Lok Sabha election to Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Bittu, a three-time Congress MP, emerged as a key choice for the BJP over other prominent figures like Preneet Kaur and Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Bittu’s political journey began at a young age, following the tragic assassination of his grandfather, former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, by pro-Khalistan militants in 1995. Encouraged by Rahul Gandhi in 2007, Bittu entered active politics after running a small cement production unit.

Hailing from Kotla Afghana village in Ludhiana, Bittu’s entry into the BJP caused a split in his family, with relatives like Tej Parkash Singh and Gurkirat Kotli remaining in the Congress party.

Known for his criticism of pro-Khalistani elements and his nationalist stance, Bittu has faced challenges and controversies during his political career, including the appointment of his half-brother Guriqbal Singh Honey as a Deputy Superintendent of Punjab Police.

During the election campaign, Bittu faced backlash for alleged illegal occupation of a government house and controversial campaign posters featuring his grandfather. Despite these hurdles, he remained resilient in his pursuit of political office.