Punjab: PM Modi will visit Dera Ballan today on Ravidas Jayanti.

Punjab: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is arriving at Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar district on Sunday to celebrate the 649th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. This is his first visit to Punjab since September last year. Massive security arrangements have been made, with nearly 8,000 police personnel deployed from 26 districts. The PM will also unveil a plaque to rename Adampur Airport after Guru Ravidas and inaugurate the new terminal of Halwara Airport via video conferencing. Ahead of this high-profile visit, four private schools in the city received threatening emails on Saturday morning. The emails did not threaten the schools, but targeted the PM. One email stated, “We have full respect for Guru Ravidas Ji, but Modi is our enemy. We have no problem with Sant Niranjan Das (head of Dera Ballan).” The emails hinted at revenge for the murder of Hardeep Nijjar in Canada in June 2023. All schools in Jalandhar were closed on Saturday due to the Guru Ravidas Shobha Yatra. This will be Modi’s third visit to Punjab after January 5, 2022, which was cut short due to a major security lapse. Due to street protests, the PM’s convoy was stuck on a flyover in Ferozepur for about 20 minutes, forcing him to return to Bathinda airport without attending the scheduled rally.
He later visited Adampur Air Base in May 2025 after Operation Sindoor and Gurdaspur in September to survey flood-affected areas. Meanwhile, a helipad has been prepared inside the Dera for the PM’s helicopter to land. Security drills have been conducted in collaboration with IAF teams and the Special Protection Group. A waterproof tent has been erected for the gathering of approximately 1,500 devotees (mostly invited after security clearance). Prior to this, the PM will land at Adampur Air Force Base, about 13 km from the Dera, at around 3:45 pm. At the IAF base, he will unveil a plaque to rename Adampur Airport as Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Airport and inaugurate the new terminal of Halwara Airport via video conferencing. He will then fly from Adampur to the Dera in an all-weather MI-17 helicopter. Due to the possibility of a storm on Sunday evening, a rehearsal was also conducted to bring him to the venue by road in a convoy. In an official statement on Saturday, the PMO said, “The PM will participate in a public event in honor of Guru Ravidas. At 4:30 p.m., he will visit the temple, where he will offer flowers to the portrait of Guru Ravidas and the statue of Sant Sarwan Das, the second Gaddi-Nashin of Dera Sachkhand Ballan. After this, he will perform Ardaas and perform Parikrama. At around 4:45 p.m., the PM will arrive on the stage and address the gathering at 5 p.m.” The statement said, “On the occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, the renaming of Adampur Airport honors the revered saint and social reformer whose teachings of equality, compassion, and human dignity continue to inspire India’s social ethos.” Officials said that further enhancing aviation infrastructure in Punjab, the terminal building at Halwara Airport will establish a new gateway to the state, serving the needs of the industrial and agricultural sectors in and around Ludhiana. Located in Ludhiana district, Halwara is also home to a strategically important Indian Air Force station. The PMO said, “The earlier airport in Ludhiana had a relatively short runway, suitable for smaller aircraft. To improve connectivity and accommodate larger aircraft, a new civil enclave has been developed at Halwara with a longer runway capable of handling A320-type aircraft.” In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of sustainable and environmentally responsible development, the terminal incorporates several green and energy-efficient features, including LED lighting, insulated roofing, rainwater harvesting systems, sewage and water treatment plants, and the use of recycled water for landscaping. The architectural design reflects Punjab’s rich cultural heritage, offering passengers a distinctive and regionally inspired travel experience.