Nehru Commences Election Tour Of Punjab

From Our Special Representative

Ambala, Dec. 21.

The Congress President, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, initiated his two and a half day tour to the Punjab this morning with an appeal to the strife-torn Punjabees to rise above petty squabbles, unite and contribute their mite towards the building of a new India and a new Punjab of their dreams.

He urged the people to vote solidly for the Congress candidates in the election.  The Congress, he said, was the best organisation to protect the interests of the people.

He regretted that women were not coming out in full strength for national activity and appealed to them to give up purdah and vote in full strength during the elections.

Pandit Nehru, who addressed lakhs of people in six meetings during the day, assured the people that unhealthy elements would be weeded out.

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The Congress President began his day with a speech at Panipat, first town where he delivered his first electioneering tour speech and concluded his heavy programme for the day which he carried through with almost clockwise punctuality, with a speech at Jullundur which is one of the most important cities of the State and is the headquarters of the Punjab State Congress Committee besides being the centre of activities, both govern- and non-official. 

A marked feature of the huge audiences which Pandit Nehru addressed during the whole of to-day up to Ambala was the praiseworthy and orderly behaviour of the people who heard their leader in pin-drop silence and with the utmost respect which is due to him. 

People Squatted 

People had gathered at these public meetings from early morning in the eastern towns of the State and kept seated during the day in the western towns to have Pandit Nehru’s ‘darshans' and to hear him. Thousands walked long distances from the villages and the rich people from palatial houses, the Kisans from their huts, and the labourers from their potty dwellings came together and squatted at these meetings for hours without any kind of distinction at any place. There was no disturbance of any kind nor any untoward incident. 

The meetings everywhere were marked with great enthusiasm and a feature of these gatherings was the affection which people showed for their leader who was in a cheerful mood throughout the day and acknowledged the love of his people with smiles and folded hands. Whenever Pandit Nehru appeared on the rostrum, he was lustily cheered and welcomed at every place with loud shouts of “Congress Zindabad". "Pandit Nehru Zindabad” and "Jai Hind".