Congress gears up for Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Barnala

The Punjab Congress is gearing up to put on a show of unity months ahead of the state polls with a rally in Barnala, which will be addressed by Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) had appointed former MLA Hardyal Singh Kamboj as incharge of the Barnala district to coordinate with MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhillon to prepare for the rally. Kamboj held a series of meetings with Congress leaders in Patiala, Rajpura and Sangrur to discuss the arrangements and preparations for the event.

Leaders said the rally being held at the grain market would discuss the core issues of Punjab. “Rahul Gandhi will be here to address the gathering and expose the hollow promises of the AAP government and the failure of the state agencies in ensuring law and order,” said Kamboj. “We have held meetings and coordinated with the Barnala unit to ensure foolproof arrangements for the rally. All party workers from across the state will participate in the rally.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Punjab on February 28 to participate in the party’s ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ campaign at Barnala. He is expected to hold a foot march in nearby areas as well. Senior leaders, including state party chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, former Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Leader of Opposition in the state legislative assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, will attend the event.

“We are expecting a large gathering based on the public support we have received during our political events in the state. People are fed up with the false promises by the Punjab Government and they want us back. The rally will prove how badly the people of the state want a change,” said party leaders.

The announcement of the rally followed the declaration of a truce between state leaders at a dinner hosted by Partap Singh Bajwa for senior party leaders at his Chandigarh residence. The All-India Congress Committee General Secretary (Punjab incharge) Bhupesh Baghel also attended the dinner.

“Leaders have already started preparing for the mega event, which will be attended by thousands of workers”, said a senior leader. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary (organisation) Sandeep Singh Sandhu has already assigned duties for the smooth conduct of the rally on February 28.