Jammu, November 26, 2025 – In the heart of Jammu’s vibrant Rajput community, where traditions of valor and unity once defined the Yuva Rajput Sabha (YRS), a storm of discord has erupted. Just two days ago, on November 24, the organization – a longstanding pillar for youth empowerment, social welfare, and advocacy for Dogra identity – splintered into rival factions, each claiming legitimate leadership. At the center of this turmoil are two self-proclaimed presidents: Mandeep Singh Chib and Dilawar Singh Manhas (alias Makhan). Compounding the chaos is the dramatic resignation of founding president Surinder Singh Gilli, a move that has sent shockwaves through the community. As egos clash and alliances fracture, questions abound: How deeply has this infighting scarred the Sabha’s reputation? What toll will it exact on its prestige? And can YRS salvage a future amid the ruins?
A Storied Past Meets a Turbulent Present
Established over a decade ago, the Yuva Rajput Sabha emerged as a beacon for Jammu’s Rajput youth, channeling their energies into pressing causes. From pushing for building Rajput hostel, amplifying voices on community boards to getting in their credit the Holiday on the Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, (a long pending demand of Rajput Community) to fight for abolishing Toll Plaza at Thandi Khui, YRS quickly rose to prominence. Its roots trace back, when Surinder Singh Gilli was crowned the inaugural state president in a grand coronation attended by Rajput luminaries and dignitaries. Under his stewardship, the organization expanded & at the times of Rajan Singh Happy & Vikram Singh it rose to its peak appointing vice presidents like Mandeep Singh Chib and secretaries from across the biradari, fostering a sense of collective purpose.
Yet, beneath the surface, cracks had been forming. With the appointment of Mandeep Singh Chib, these cracks has appeared on the surface when Sanjeev Singh Rinku has been appointed as the president by the Chairman Raghubir Singh. Rumours claimed that the patchup has been done when it was assured that Mandeep Singh Chib will be appointed as President after three months turn of Sanjeev Singh Rinku although Chairman at the time in pure Dogri style that “Rinku ki bhi do aankhain ,do taange, do kaan ,do haath hain phir us ki turn chhoti kyun hogi. But as his turn ended & Mandeep Singh Chib is sworn by the two former presidents as new president of YRS. Mandeep Singh Chib ascendency to the presidency is what was billed as a unifying election, drawing endorsements from core committee members and district pradhans. Videos from the event captured jubilant crowds hailing the “new era” for Rajput youth. Chib, a familiar face as a former vice president, promised to prioritize Rajput growth, including 50-60% reservations in key institutions. Then suddenly Dilawar Singh Manhas alias Makhan came into fore & appointed as parallel president in a well attended function. It was a surprise to the biradari. These Frequent leadership churn – presidents rose and fell in mere months or even days, often amid whispers of personal agendas eclipsing communal goals.
Reports indicate Dilawar Singh Manhas, a vice president turned challenger garnered swift backing from heavyweights: Chairman Raghuveer Singh, ex-president Sanjeev Singh (often referred to as Rinku Singh), 8-10 core committee members, and over 15 district leaders. On November 24, during a heated core committee meeting marred by the pointed absence of Raghuveer and Rinku – interpreted by some as a boycott born of resentment – Manhas was declared the new president. In his acceptance speech, he vowed to refocus on core issues: elevating Rajput concerns first, while extending conditional support to allied groups.
The result? A Sabha divided, with social media ablaze in a “Who is the real president?” frenzy. Facebook posts and Instagram reels pit Chib against Manhas, turning a community forum into a digital battleground. What began as internal dissent has ballooned into a public spectacle, eroding the very foundations YRS was built upon.
Gilli’s Exit: The Resignation That Echoes Betrayal
No single event has crystallized this crisis like Surinder Singh Gilli’s resignation. After 12 years as a founding architect and the Sabha’s first president, Gilli stepped down in a raw, emotional interview that laid bare the rot within. “I apologize to society for not fulfilling our promises,” he said, his voice heavy with regret. Gilli decried “ego battles” and “uncontrolled actions” by comrades, pointing to a toxic shift from societal welfare to political maneuvering. He recounted how leaves for community service were ignored, women’s initiatives stalled, and the organization devolved into a “joke” through relentless infighting.
Gilli’s departure symbolizes a deeper malaise. As the man who once united disparate biradaris under one banner, his exit highlights the Sabha’s failure to evolve beyond factionalism. In a community that reveres loyalty and honor, Gilli’s words sting: YRS, once a force multiplier for Rajput aspirations, now risks alienating its base through self-inflicted wounds.
The Fallout: A Tarnished Reputation and Precarious Future
The immediate repercussions on YRS’s reputation are stark and sobering. Once hailed as a model of youth-led activism – credited with amplifying Dogra voices in policy circles – the Sabha now grapples with perceptions of incompetence and pettiness. Social media commentary is unforgiving: “Tamasha bana diya sabha ka” (They’ve turned the Sabha into a circus), lamented one commenter on a viral post. The dueling presidencies evoke images of feudal squabbles, undermining the organization’s moral authority. Potential allies, from political leaders to other caste groups, may hesitate to engage with an entity that can’t govern itself, let alone advocate effectively.
Prestige, too, hangs in the balance. YRS’s prestige stemmed from its apolitical ethos and tangible wins, like welfare programs echoing Maharaja Hari Singh’s legacy. Infighting dilutes this aura, painting the Rajput youth as divided and directionless at a time when unity is paramount amid broader socio-economic pressures. Donations may dry up, membership wane, and hard-fought gains could erode if factions pull in opposite directions.
Looking ahead, the future of YRS teeters on a knife’s edge. Optimists point to the community’s resilience: A mediated reconciliation, perhaps under elder statesmen. Manhas’s faction emphasizes grassroots support, while Chib’s stresses recent on his legitimacy – a merger isn’t impossible if egos subside. Yet, pessimists warn of irreparable decline: Persistent splits could spawn parallel Sabhas, fragmenting resources and diluting impact, much like other community bodies that faded into obscurity.
In the words of Gilli, the real victims are the youth YRS was meant to uplift. “We must unite elsewhere for the society’s betterment,” he urged, hinting at a post-YRS path. As Jammu’s Rajput brethren navigate this crossroads, the Sabha’s fate will test whether valor triumphs over vendetta – or if a noble legacy crumbles under its own weight.
