Will put an end to ''raid raj'', Kejriwal tells Aggarwals

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar/Amritsar, September 25

Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the party would put an end to “raid raj” in what appears to be a jibe at intensified tax raids by the income tax department.    

Speaking at a gathering at the Aggarwal community’s Agrasen Jayanti Samaroh celebrations, Kejriwal said industrialists of the community had the potential to provide employment to those who have undergone drug rehabilitation.

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Several AAP leaders from the state, among them Sanjay Singh, Parliamentarian Bhagwant Mann and state convener Gurpreet Ghuggi attended the event.

Meanwhile, Congress activists held protests against Kejriwal on Sunday as he made his way to Jalandhar to attend the celebrations.

Several members of the Congress’ women’s wing, including state head Mamta Dutta, were injured in the protest held on the Airport Road near Amritsar’s Raddisson Hotel as police tried to push back protesters to allow Kejriwal’s cavalcade to pass. 

The women protesters later demanded action against the policemen for manhandling them.

Congress activists also held protests in Jalandhar.

Comprising 11 per cent of Punjab’s population, the Aggarwal community wields influence in most of the Malwa’s towns and other places, including Bathinda, Mansa, Rampura Phul, Barnala, Sunam, Sangrur, Patran, Samana, Raikot, Dhuri, Nabha, Gidderbaha, Jaitu and Ludhiana. However, with only four lawmakers in the state assembly, it does not wield much power politically.

Delhi CM meets Radha Soami sect chief at Beas

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also met Radha Soami sect chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon at Beas in a bid to broaden AAP's base in the state where assembly polls are slated early next year and the sect has a considerable following.

Kejriwal met Dhillon at Dera Radha Soami, also known as Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, and spent over 30 minutes with him.

Kejriwal took blessings from the sect chief and discussed the political scenario of Punjab in view of the upcoming assembly elections, an AAP spokesman said.

AAP Punjab convener Gurpreet Ghuggi and MP from Sangur Bhagwant Manna were also accompanying Kejriwal.

Earlier, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had also met the Radha Soami sect chief at Beas in March this year.

BJP leader L K Advani had also visited Beas in 2014 and attended the morning discourse of the sect head. — With PTI inputs