Sandeep Jakhar is an Indian politician, farmer, and social & political activist, who was a Member of the Indian National Congress until August 2023. He is the nephew of Sunil Jakhar, the Unit President of Punjab BJP. On 19 August 2023, he was suspended from the Indian National Congress for allegedly indulging in “anti-party activities.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Sandeep Jakhar was born on Friday, 21 May 1976 (age 47 years; as of 2023) in Abohar, Fazilka district, Punjab. His zodiac sign is Gemini. He did his schooling at Mayo College, Ajmer. In 1998, Sandeep went to Switzerland, where he pursued Hospitality Management at the Hotel Institute of Montreux. He then pursued a B.Sc. from Florida International University, Miami, Florida, in 2001.
An old picture of Sandeep Jakhar with Sunil Jakhar
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Hair Colour: Black (Semi-bald)
Eye Colour: Brown
Family
Sandeep Jakhar belongs to a prominent Hindu Jat family in Abohar. For three generations, his family has been associated with the Indian National Congress.
Parents & Siblings
Sandeep Jakhar’s father, Surinder Jakhar, was once the chairman of Asia’s cooperative fertiliser giant IFFCO, where he served for four terms. Surinder was also the chief of the Asian Cooperative Alliance for two terms.
Sandeep Jakhar’s father, Surinder Jakhar
Wife & Children
Sandeep Jakhar is married to a Japanese woman named Atsuko Jakhar. Atsuko is a homemaker. Together, they have a daughter named Meera Jakhar.
Sandeep Jakhar with his wife and daughter
Other Relatives
Sandeep Jakhar’s grandfather, Balram Jakhar, was also a politician. His grandfather was the longest-serving speaker of the Lok Sabha. Balram also served as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh and Union Agriculture Minister during the Narasimha Rao government.
Sandeep Jakhar’s grandfather Balram Jakhar
Sandeep Jakhar’s uncle Sunil Jakhar is a three-time Member of the Legislative Assembly and a one-time Member of Parliament. Sunil is the former President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Sunil is the Unit President of the Punjab BJP.
Sandeep Jakhar (right) with his uncle Sunil Jakhar (left)
Sandeep’s other uncle Sajjan Jakhar was an Agriculture Minister in the Beant Singh Government. His cousin Ajay Vir Jakhar is the Chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj, an Indian farmers’ forum.
Sandeep Jakhar’s cousin Ajay Vir Jakhar
Address
VPO Panjkosi, Tehsil Abohar, District Fazilka, Punjab, India
Career
Corporate Job
After completing his graduation, Sandeep Jakhar worked as head of the Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, US. He worked there for around ten years and then returned to India with his family.
Farming
After returning from Florida, Sandeep Jakhar began farming on his ancestral land in Panjkosi, Abohar. He has a few kinnow farms in his village.
Politics
While working on his farms, Sandeep Jakhar began assisting his uncle Sunil Jakhar in his political work and realised that public service was his true calling. Soon, he became the district President of the Youth Congress Unit in Punjab. In 2022, he contested the Punjab Legislative Assembly elections from his family’s traditional seat Abohar on a ticket of the Indian National Congress. He won the elections by a margin of 5,471 votes and became the MLA from Abohar. As the MLA, Sandeep worked on various important projects in Abohar. He built a government college, fixed the canals that provide water for farming and drinking, improved the Abohar Mandi and made a special place for selling Kinnow fruits. He also made schools better, created new water systems in villages, improved how sewage is managed in Abohar, built sports stadiums, and repaired the main roads in the city.
Sandeep Jakhar during a Congress Party meeting
He also launched the mission cleanup in his town with 11 volunteers who cleaned up one area in the Abohar every Saturday. The project was called “Aaapka Abohar, Aapki Abha.” Slowly, many people began volunteering in the project including doctors, teachers, lawyers, students, and homemakers. As a part of the project they collected and separated garbage from houses and stopped using plastic bags. On 19 August 2023, the Indian National Congress suspended Sandeep Jakhar from the party for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities. The action was taken following a complaint filed by Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. The suspension notice, signed by Tariq Anwar, the secretary of the Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC), stated,
The President, Punjab PCC has complained that you are indulging in anti-party activities.”
The letter also pointed,
You have been speaking against the party and the PCC President; you are openly defending your uncle Sunil Jakhar.”
Sandeep Jakhar’s suspension order
Controversy
Tussle with Amrinder Singh Raja Warring
In 2022, there was a clash between Punjab Congress head Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Sandeep Jakhar, the Congress MLA from Abohar. Their disagreement centred around Sandeep’s close relationship with his uncle Sunil Jakhar, who switched from Congress to BJP. During a Congress event called Tiranga Yatra, Warring challenged Sandeep to leave the party and retain his seat if he truly believed he had support in Abohar. Warring criticized Jakhar and accused him of betraying the party. Warring also said that Jakhar was reducing the chances of the Indian National Congress in upcoming assembly elections. In response, Sandeep said that Warring’s comments were a sign of immaturity. He requested Warring not to break the party’s rules by making such immature statements in the public domain.
Salary/Income
In the financial year 2020-2021, Sandeep Jakhar’s income was Rs 2,17,61,895.
Assets & Properties
Movable Assets
- Bank Deposits: Rs. 99,72,658
- Shares, Bonds, Debentures: Rs. 1,82,97,829
- Insurance Policies: Rs. 22,07,688
- Loans/Advances Given: Rs. 7,81,69,179
- Other Assets: Rs. 16,45,934
Immovable Assets
- Agricultural Land: Rs. 11,50,41,563
- Commercial Buildings: Rs. 1,97,16,800
- Residential Buildings: Rs. 1,97,50,000
- Other Assets: Rs. 1,13,013
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2020-2021. It excludes the assets owned by his wife and dependents (minor).
Net Worth
Sandeep Jakhar’s net worth for the financial year 2020-2021 was estimated to be Rs. 26,79,81,254. It excludes the net worth of his wife and dependents (minors).
Facts
- Sandeep Jakhar loves listening to music in his leisure time. He also has a deep love for nature and sports.
- In an interview, Sandeep revealed that even though he belonged to a family with a political background, initially he had no plans to join politics.
- An avid animal lover, Sandeep has a few pet dogs.
Sandeep Jakhar with his daughter and pet dogs
Categories: Politics
Source: dienchau2.edu.vn
