It’s ‘pink turban’ vs ‘Gandhi topi’
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Sirsa, April 12
The Congress’ “kisan mazdoor rally” scheduled for April 19 in Delhi will be a battle between “pink turban” and “Gandhi topi”.
Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has asked his supporters to reach the venue donning pink turbans to establish their distinct identity. State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, for his part, has asked his supporters to come to the rally wearing Gandhi caps with the message “kewal satya hi bole (Only truth prevails)” written on them.
A large majority of the turnout is expected from Haryana.
Congress leaders from Sirsa and Fatehabad, including former minister Paramveer Singh and Ranjit Singh, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Prahlad Singh Gillankhera and CM’s former OSD KV Singh, attended a preparatory meeting called by former Hooda at his house in Delhi.
Those close to state Congress president Ashok Tanwar — Shishpal Singh Keharwala who contested the 2014 Assembly elections from Kalanwali, Ramesh Bhadu (Ellenabad) and Naveen Kedia (Sirsa) — stayed away from the meeting.
Ever since the Congress announced its rally, Tanwar and Hooda factions have been holding separate meetings in the state.
Former Speaker Kuldeep Sharma recently met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi in connection with the rally. Though he refused to divulge details of his meeting with the party chief, sources said he discussed infighting in the party and farmers’ issues.
Recently, Congress leader Ranjit Singh termed Tanwar as “pravasi pakshi”, following which Tanwar had shot him a show-cause notice.
