Over 2.68 crore people in India live with disabilities, yet many still struggle to access public spaces and services.
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With the Supreme Court's recent directive for mandatory accessibility rules, can India overcome these barriers and ensure true inclusion for persons with disabilities?
Hans Raj Josan has had a long and eventful political career. He served twice as a minister in the Congress government and contested Jalalabad multiple times, winning in 1992 and 2002, but losing twice to Sukhbir Singh Badal in 2009 and 2012. Later, he joined the Shiromani Akali Dal and contested the Fazilka Assembly seat in 2022, only to lose again. In 2023, Josan returned to Congress, and with the 2027 elections approaching, he is now seen as a strong contender from Jalalabad.
हंस राज जोसन का राजनीतिक सफर लंबा और घटनापूर्ण रहा है। उन्होंने कांग्रेस सरकार में दो बार मंत्री के रूप में काम किया और जलालाबाद से कई बार चुनाव लड़ा, 1992 और 2002 में जीत हासिल की, लेकिन 2009 और 2012 में सुखबीर सिंह बादल से हार गए। बाद में वह शिरोमणि अकाली दल में शामिल हो गए और 2022 में फ़ाज़िल्का विधानसभा सीट पर चुनाव लड़ा, लेकिन फिर से हार मिली। 2023 में हंस राज जोसन कांग्रेस में लौट आए और 2027 के चुनावों के नज़दीक आते ही अब उन्हें जलालाबाद से मजबूत प्रत्याशी माना जा रहा है।
Surjit Singh Rakhra, two-time MLA from Samana (2002 and 2012), Former Cabinet Minister, and the leader who defeated Captain Amarinder Singh’s son Raninder Singh in 2012 but later lost to AAP and Congress in 2017, is now with the rebel faction Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjeet). Over two decades, Surjit Singh Rakhra has remained rooted in Samana, refusing to shift constituencies even after losses, earning respect for his approachable style. With the rebel faction planning to contest upcoming Zilla Parishad and Block Samiti elections under Giani Harpreet Singh, the real question is, if his momentum continues, could Rakhra become a serious challenge for Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in 2027, a rival they cannot easily ignore?
