}}'''Balbir Punj''' (born 1949) is a journalist and columnist from [[India]]. He is not only a columnist but also an active political worker. He was a former member of [[Rajya Sabha]] for two terms. He was [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP)'s Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh between 2000-2006. In 2008, Balbir Punj was again elected a member of Rajya Sabha from Odisha and retired in 2014. He was also the convener of the Intellectual Cell of the BJP for a decade, helping the party to chart out its ideological course. On 31 March 2013, he was promoted as one of the Vice Presidents of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref>{{cite news|last=bjp announce core team|first=bjp announce core team|title=bjp announce core team|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-announces-parliamentary-board-narendra-modi-reinducted/382191-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402012508/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-announces-parliamentary-board-narendra-modi-reinducted/382191-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2013|accessdate=31 March 2013|newspaper=ibnlive}}</ref> Punj has also served BJP party as its national secretary, and as in charge of several states, including ''[[Gujarat]]'', ''[[Punjab]]'', ''[[Kerala]]'' and ''[[Himachal Pradesh]]''. He was also member of BJP's National Executive from 2000 to 2014. Balbir Punj is often said to be a close associate of ''[[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=RSS may make Aligarh Muslim University's minority status an issue in poll bound Uttar Pradesh |first=RSS may make Aligarh Muslim University's minority status an issue in poll bound Uttar Pradesh|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rss-may-make-aligarh-muslim-universitys-minority-status-an-issue-in-poll-bound-uttar-pradesh/articleshow/52825480.cms?from=mdr}}</ref> He can be often seen on news channels debating issues.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H88qj3C8OjE "CNN NEWS 18 CAA NRC DEBATE 17 DEC 2019", ''News 18'']</ref>
}}'''Balbir Punj''' (born 1949) is a journalist and columnist from [[India]]. He was a [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha]] from [[Uttar Pradesh]], representing the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] between 2000 and 2006. In 2008, Balbir Punj was again elected a member of Rajya Sabha from [[Odisha]]. He retired in 2014. He was also the convener of the Intellectual Cell of the BJP for a decade. On 31 March 2013, he was appointed one of the Vice Presidents of the BJP.<ref>{{cite news|last=bjp announce core team|first=bjp announce core team|title=bjp announce core team|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-announces-parliamentary-board-narendra-modi-reinducted/382191-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402012508/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-announces-parliamentary-board-narendra-modi-reinducted/382191-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2013|accessdate=31 March 2013|newspaper=ibnlive}}</ref> Punj has also served as the party's national secretary, and as party chief in several states, including ''[[Gujarat]]'', ''[[Punjab]]'', ''[[Kerala]]'' and ''[[Himachal Pradesh]]''. He was a member of the BJP's National Executive from 2000 to 2014. He is described as a close associate of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]].<ref>{{cite news|last=RSS may make Aligarh Muslim University's minority status an issue in poll bound Uttar Pradesh |first=RSS may make Aligarh Muslim University's minority status an issue in poll bound Uttar Pradesh|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rss-may-make-aligarh-muslim-universitys-minority-status-an-issue-in-poll-bound-uttar-pradesh/articleshow/52825480.cms?from=mdr}}</ref>
==Early career==
==Early career==
Punj was born in Lalowal, [[Gurdaspur]], [[Punjab]]. He started his career in journalism for the publication ''Motherland'' in 1971. He also worked for [[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]] from 1974 to 1996. Then he worked for ''The Observer of Business and Politics'' (A business daily published from Delhi and Mumbai) as an Executive Editor for 4 years- May 1996 to March 2000). He was also [[Indian Institute of Mass Communication|IIMC]] chairman for almost two years till March 2000. IIMC is the best-known organization in media training in entire Southeast Asia. Students from 73 countries have received training here in various disciplines of media. It was set up by the [[Government of India]] in 1965 on the recommendation of a team of internationally known mass communication specialists from UNESCO and the Ford Foundation. He was also chairman of the National Commission for Youth (Minister of State status).
Punj was born in Lalowal, [[Gurdaspur]], [[Punjab]]. He started his career in journalism for the publication ''Motherland'' in 1971. He also worked for [[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]] from 1974 to 1996. Then he worked for ''The Observer of Business and Politics'' (A business daily published from Delhi and Mumbai) as an Executive Editor for 4 years- May 1996 to March 2000. He was also [[Indian Institute of Mass Communication|IIMC]] chairman for almost two years till March 2000. He was also chairman of the National Commission for Youth (Minister of State status).
==Current==
==Current==
He has written columns in the National English & Hindi Daily and Indian weekly magazine ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]''<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/in-the-dark-of-his-troubles/296583 " In The Dark Of His Troubles. The text of Rohith Vemula's suicide note holds the key to understanding his death. It doesn't speak like those who claim to speak for him.", ''Outlook India'']</ref>
Punj has written columns in the weekly magazine ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]''. He has also written columns for the daily newspapers ''[[Punjab Kesari]]'', ''[[Amar Ujala]]'', ''[[Swadesh News|Swadesh]]'', ''[[Sanmarg]]'', ''[[Naya India]]'', ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', ''[[Indian Express]]'', ''[[Asian Age]]'', ''[[Mail Today]]'', ''[[Mid-Day]]'', ''[[New Indian Express]]'', ''[[Sunday Standard]]'', ''[[Dainik Jagran]]'', ''[[Andhra Jyoti]]'', ''[[Lokmat Times]]'', ''[[Gujarat Samachar]]'', ''[[Sandesh (Indian newspaper)|Sandesh]]'', and ''[[Chetna]]''.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/whos-afraid-of-the-bjp/235672 " Who's Afraid Of The BJP? by Balbir Punj", ''Outlook India'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/let-sleeping-gods-lie/239004 " Let Sleeping Gods Lie. The Church's 'harvest of souls' policy has led us to this foul juncture", ''Outlook India'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/maoists-are-no-maoris/232453 " Maoists Are No Maoris!. Salwa Judum is an indigenous answer to the imported problem of Maoism", ''Outlook India'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/hooghly-meets-volga/234282 " Hooghly Meets Volga. The Stalinist streak is back in the CPI(M), a throttled media is added proof", ''Outlook India'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-mother-principle/222163 " The Mother Principle. An evangelist is Calcutta's mascot, even though more authentic figures abound", ''Outlook India'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/healing-achilles-heel/217753 "Columns by Balbir Punj", ''Outlook India'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/on-an-ancestral-trek/221270 " On An Ancestral Trek. A Punjabi adage: one who hasn't seen Lahore hasn't been born. A birthday boy's account.", ''Outlook India'']</ref>
.<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/fiddling-with-facts-as-gujarat-burns/215755 " Fiddling With Facts As Gujarat Burns. The Roys in the media are harming India with half-truths and worse, says Balbir Punj", ''Outlook India'']</ref> Lately his contributions to ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]'' have become less frequent. Punj specializes in writing about various social, economic, and political issues. Currently, he writes a regular column for the daily newspaper ''[[Punjab Kesari]]''<ref>[https://punjabkesari.in/blogs/news/was-bhumi-pujan-of-5-august-possible-without-6-december-1992-1218872 "5 अगस्त का भूमिपूजन क्या 6 दिसंबर 1992 के बिना संभव था?", ''Punjab Kesari'']</ref>
<ref>[https://punjabkesari.in/blogs/news/why-wait-for-73-years-in-the-reconstruction-of-shri-ram-temple-1219607 "श्रीराम मंदिर के पुनर्निर्माण में 73 वर्षों की प्रतीक्षा क्यों?", ''Punjab Kesari'']</ref>
,<ref>[https://punjabkesari.in/blogs/news/shri-ram-is-the--guardian--of-samaras-society-1220242 "श्रीराम समरस समाज के 'पालक' है", ''Punjab Kesari'']</ref> ''[[Amar Ujala]]''<ref>[https://www.amarujala.com/columns/opinion/ram-janm-bhoomi-ayodhya-the-relevance-of-shriram-telling-balbir-punj " श्रीराम की प्रासंगिकता, बता रहे हैं बलबीर पुंज", ''Amar Ujala'']</ref>
,<ref>[https://www.amarujala.com/columns/opinion/kamala-harriss-other-side-telling-balbir-punj "कमला हैरिस के व्यक्तित्व में भारतीयता कितनी है? बता रहे हैं बलबीर पुंज", ''Amar Ujala'']</ref> ''[[Swadesh News|Swadesh]]'', ''[[Sanmarg]]'', ''[[Naya India]]''. Until some time ago, he was also writing for ''[[Hindustan Times]]'',<ref>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-view/the-division-game-is-over/story-Y39ngb18wnfzQbFfQXjoXN.html "The 'division' game is over ", ''Hindustan Times'']</ref> ''[[Indian Express]]''<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/dear-president-obama/ "Open letter to Mr. Obama", ''Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-leftists-communists-pm-narendra-modi-4581051/ "A New Bharat by Balbir Punj", ''Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-math-of-the-matter/ "The Math Of The Matter by Balbir Punj", ''Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-contest-over-true-muslims/ " The contest over 'true Muslims' by Balbir Punj", ''Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/caught-in-its-own-excesses/ " Caught in its own excesses by Balbir Punj", ''Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/profile/columnist/balbir-punj/ "Columns by Balbir Punj", ''Indian Express'']</ref>
, ''[[Asian Age]]''<ref>[http://archive.asianage.com/content/balbir-k-punj "Columns by Balbir Punj", ''Asian Age'']</ref>
<ref>[http://archive.asianage.com/opinion/kashmir-redux-043 " Kashmir redux by Balbir Punj", ''Asian Age'']</ref>
<ref>[http://archive.asianage.com/opinion/missing-target-258 "Missing Targets by Balbir Punj", ''Asian Age'']</ref>
<ref>[http://archive.asianage.com/content/jammu-and-kashmir-tale-two-flags " Jammu and Kashmir: A tale of two flags by Balbir Punj", ''Asian Age'']</ref>
<ref>[http://archive.asianage.com/content/madrasas-two-school-theory "Madrasas: two school theory by Balbir Punj", ''Asian Age'']</ref>
, ''[[Mail Today]]''<ref>[https://www.dailyo.in/voices/john-chau-the-sentinelese-are-not-white-man-s-burden-neither-the-world-is/story/1/28192.html "The Sentinelese are not 'White Man's Burden'. Neither is the world by Balbir Punj", ''Mail Today'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.dailyo.in/politics/why-is-pakistan-silent-about-attacks-on-muslims-in-china/story/1/27168.html "Why is Pakistan silent about attacks on Muslims in China? by Balbir Punj", ''Mail Today'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.dailyo.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-rss-muslim-brotherhood-terrorism-congress-bjp/story/1/26629.html "Why Rahul Gandhi is wrong in comparing RSS to the Muslim Brotherhood by Balbir Punj", ''Mail Today'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.dailyo.in/politics/why-kerala-marxist-party-frowns-as-its-top-leaders-are-reading-malayalam-ramayana/story/1/25715.html "How CPM in Kerala faces a new challenge in Malayalam Ramayana by Balbir Punj", ''Mail Today'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.dailyo.in/politics/17-hindus-sikhs-killed-in-jalalabad-explosion-isis-sultan-mahmud-of-ghazni/story/1/25417.html "Afghanistan's ghastly drama: What lies ahead for the country's minorities by Balbir Punj", ''Mail Today'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.dailyo.in/politics/narendra-modi-church-illegal-conversions-dalits-adivasis-minorities/story/1/25197.html "Why the church has no faith in Modi by Balbir Punj", ''Mail Today'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.dailyo.in/politics/jignesh-mevani-rahul-gandhi-bhima-koregaon-dalit-muslim-alliance-jarnail-singh-bhindranwale/story/1/21714.html "By backing Jignesh Mevani, Rahul is repeating Rajiv and Indira Gandhi's mistakes by Balbir Punj", ''Mail Today'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.dailyo.in/politics/tipu-sultan-syed-ahmed-khan-bjp-congress-alternative-views/story/1/20628.html " Tipu Sultan is no hero. India needs to stop celebrating him by Balbir Punj", ''Mail Today'']</ref>
, ''[[Mid-Day]]'', ''[[New Indian Express]]''<ref>[https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2018/sep/20/church-practise-what-you-preach-1874445.html "Church, practise what you preach by Balbir Punj", ''New Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2018/may/17/a-change-of-mindset-in-pakistan-1815778.html "A change of mindset in Pakistan? by Balbir Punj", ''New Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2018/apr/19/ambedkar-versus-his-apostles-1803377.html "Ambedkar Versus His Apostles by Balbir Punj", ''New Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2017/may/27/confessions-of-a-hindu-nationalist-1609490--1.html "Confessions of a 'Hindu Nationalist' by Balbir Punj", ''New Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2017/mar/04/the-left-myth-of-academic-freedom-1577334--1.html "The Left myth of academic freedom by Balbir Punj", ''New Indian Express'']</ref>
<ref>[https://www.newindianexpress.com/author/Balbir-Punj "Columns by Balbir Punj", ''New Indian Express'']</ref>
, ''[[Sunday Standard]]'', ''[[Dainik Jagran]]'',<ref>[https://www.jagran.com/editorial/apnibaat-big-decision-of-electoral-reform-15350064.html "चुनाव सुधार का बड़ा फैसला", ''Dainik Jagran'']</ref><ref>[https://www.jagran.com/editorial/apnibaat-7568406.html "पाकिस्तान का जिहादी मानस", ''Dainik Jagran'']</ref><ref>[https://www.jagran.com/editorial/apnibaat-8401111.html "लीबिया के भविष्य की चिंता", ''Dainik Jagran'']</ref>
Balbir Punj (born 1949) is a journalist and columnist from India. He was a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party between 2000 and 2006. In 2008, Balbir Punj was again elected a member of Rajya Sabha from Odisha. He retired in 2014. He was also the convener of the Intellectual Cell of the BJP for a decade. On 31 March 2013, he was appointed one of the Vice Presidents of the BJP.[1] Punj has also served as the party's national secretary, and as party chief in several states, including Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh. He was a member of the BJP's National Executive from 2000 to 2014. He is described as a close associate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.[2]
Punj was born in Lalowal, Gurdaspur, Punjab. He started his career in journalism for the publication Motherland in 1971. He also worked for Financial Express from 1974 to 1996. Then he worked for The Observer of Business and Politics (A business daily published from Delhi and Mumbai) as an Executive Editor for 4 years- May 1996 to March 2000. He was also IIMC chairman for almost two years till March 2000. He was also chairman of the National Commission for Youth (Minister of State status).
↑bjp announce core team, bjp announce core team. "bjp announce core team". ibnlive. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
