Parminder Singh Brar (10 November 1983) is an Indian politician, sports administrator and lawyer. Brar is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He has been serving as General Secretary of BJP Punjab since 17 September 2023.[1] Brar is noted for his involvement in youth politics in Punjab.[2][3]

Parminder Singh Brar
General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party, Punjab
Assumed office
17 September 2023
PresidentSunil Kumar Jakhar
Personal details
Born (1983-11-10) 10 November 1983 (age 41)
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party (December 2021-present)
Other political
affiliations
Indian National Congress (October 2021-December 2021)
Shiromani Akali Dal (until October 2021)
Children1
Alma materPanjab University (LLB, MBA)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • sports administrator
  • lawyer

Early life and education

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Parminder Singh Brar was born on 10 November 1983. Brar is the grandson of politician Hari Singh Zira.[4] He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the Department of Laws in Panjab University, Chandigarh, and has a Masters in Business Administration from Panjab University.[5] Brar is enrolled as a solicitor in the Law Society of England and Wales, and in 2009, he attended a human rights program that was conducted by the American University, Washington College of Law.[5]

Political career

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Early political career

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Brar was initially a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and served in various positions in SAD. From 2016 to 2017, he was the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the then-deputy chief minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal.[6] He was also the head of SAD's information technology wing.[7] During his time in SAD, Brar was particularly involved in youth politics. In 2018, he was appointed as the President of the Student Organisation of India, the student wing of SAD.[8][3] He was also part of the Youth Akali Dal, SAD's youth wing, core committee that was first formed in 2016 and was also the head of the Youth Akali Dal.[2][9] Brar was also given significant responsibilities in SAD's previous election campaigns before 2021.[10]

However, in October 2021, Brar joined the Indian National Congress (INC) after SAD refused to give him a ticket to compete in the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly elections.[10] The INC had mixed reactions to him joining the party, with some of the INC politicians commenting that the sole asset that Brar had was his proximity to senior SAD politician Bikram Singh Majithia.[10]

Bharatiya Janata Party

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In December 2021, Brar joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[11] In December 2022, he was appointed as secretary of BJP Punjab.[12] On 17 September 2023, Brar was appointed as General Secretary of BJP Punjab.[13] On 29 of September 2023, he was appointed as the president of BJP Punjab Yuva Morcha, the BJP Punjab's youth wing.[14][15] Brar's appointment as General Secretary of BJP Punjab alienated BJP Punjab politicians Balbir Singh Sidhu and Gurpreet Singh Kangar, as they viewed Brar as being a junior politician and yet still being appointed to a senior position.[16] Sidhu and Kangar rejoined the INC in October 2023, after having joined the BJP in 2022.[16][17]

In March 2024, was made a member of the BJP Punjab State Election Committee, which was formed for the 2024 Indian General Election.[18] In the run up to the 2024 Indian General Election, Brar criticized the Aam Aadami Party (AAP) for failing to find suitable candidates for the parliament seats from Punjab, alleging that the party had to resort to nominating corrupt leaders.[19] He also claimed that farmers were satisfied with the BJP Central Government's betterment efforts, and emphasized that polling booth-level workers focus on door-to-door campaigns in the Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha constituency to promote the BJP government's policies.[19] In April 2024, Brar was part of the joining ceremony that welcomed several senior Punjab politicians to the BJP.[20] In July 2024, the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh received three threat letters containing a suspicious powdered substance. The letters, allegedly from the militant Khalistan Zindabad Force, targeted leaders Brar, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Tejinder Singh Sran, demanding they disassociate from the BJP. The incident was reported to the police, and the substance was sent for forensic examination.[21]

Sports administration

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Brar served as the Vice President of the Punjab Rifle Shooting Association (PRSA) from at least 2015 to 2017.[22][23] He is serving as the Senior Vice President of the PRSA since 2017.[24]

Personal life

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Brar is married and has one child.[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ Vasudeva, Ravinder (19 September 2023). "Punjab: Sikhs get lion's share in BJP's new state executive". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Punjab Elections 2022: Protection enhanced for BJP Leaders after PM's Security Breach". Moneycontrol. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b Brar, Angad Singh (8 September 2019). "Panjab University's new student council: Meet the student council president who staged three hunger strikes". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  4. ^ Sharma, Ankur (16 February 2022). "Nearly Two Dozen BJP Leaders, Candidates Get Security Cover in Punjab, UP Until Elections". News18. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b Babushahi Bureau (23 July 2016). "Parminder Singh Brar appointed OSD to Deputy CM, Sukhbir Badal". Babushahi. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  6. ^ ANI (24 July 2016). "Parminder Brar appointed OSD to Sukhbir Badal". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  7. ^ Gopal, Navjeevan (3 December 2021). "Beleagured Sukhbir Badal grapples with SAD crises ahead of polls". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  8. ^ TNN (13 December 2018). "SAD youth wing, SOI get new heads". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  9. ^ ANI (21 July 2016). "Sukhbir Singh Badal forms 40-member Youth Akali Dal core committee". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Bikram Singh Majithia's ex-aide Parminder Singh Brar joins Congress". The Tribune. 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  11. ^ PTI (2 December 2021). "Akali Leader Manjinder Sirsa Joins BJP Ahead of Punjab Polls". The Wire. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  12. ^ Express News Service (4 December 2022). "Capt daughter among 5 ex-Cong leaders named vice-president in Punjab BJP". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  13. ^ PTI (17 September 2023). "BJP announces revamp of Punjab unit". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  14. ^ "ਪੰਜਾਬ ਭਾਜਪਾ ਦੇ ਜਨਰਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਪਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਰਾੜ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲੀ ਅਹਿਮ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ; ਭਾਜਪਾ ਯੁਵਾ ਮੋਰਚਾ ਦੇ ਇੰਚਾਰਜ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ". Rozana Spokesman (in Punjabi). 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  15. ^ Bharti, Parmod (26 October 2023). "Parminder Brar exhorts youth to come forward to make contributions to bringing BJP to power in Punjab". Babushahi. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  16. ^ a b Mahajan, Anilesh S. (6 November 2023). "Punjab | BJP's embarrassing exodus". India Today. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  17. ^ India Today Web Desk (5 June 2022). "Tip of iceberg: Captain Amarinder Singh as Congress logs 5 defections in Punjab". India Today. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  18. ^ TNN (1 March 2024). "BJP sets up LS poll panel for Punjab". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  19. ^ a b Our Correspondent (20 March 2024). "Punjab BJP secretary lashes out at AAP govt". The Tribune. Retrieved 22 March 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ "Several Congress, SAD leaders of Punjab joins BJP under Jakhar's leadership". Punjab News Express. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  21. ^ Mishra, Naina (10 July 2024). "Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh receives 3 threat letters with suspicious substance". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  22. ^ Khaira, Rachna (26 August 2015). "Govt support lacking, Punjab shooters turn to private ranges". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  23. ^ Press Trust of India (18 May 2017). "Jakhar is new Punjab Rifle Shooting Association chairman". India Today. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  24. ^ Kaur, Sukhdeep (19 May 2017). "Amarinder's son buries differences with Badal aides for Punjab Rifle Association elections". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Parminder Singh Brar - #fatherson #family #father #love #dad #dadlife #fathers #fatherandson #fatherhood #son #eraabsinghbrar | Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.