Stepping up its election campaign momentum ahead of the crucial Punjab Assembly polls, the Congress has decided to take the ruling Akali leadership head-on, as it prepares to stage protests in the native village of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal against the alleged failures of the State government.
The Punjab Congress plans to stage a series of protests against the government on the alleged deteriorating law and order situation, delay in payments to farmers and irregularities in recruitments in the month of June. The protests will be led by party State unit president Capt. Amarinder Singh.
After completion of Capt. Singh’s U.S. tour, the party now seems all set for an intensive campaign across the State.
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“I’ll lead the protest [dharna] against the Akalis in the Badal village on June 18, to raise voice against the irregularities in recruitments in the State.. one of the close aides of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is involved in this,” said Capt. Singh in Chandigarh.
“We will stage a dharna on June 8 at Dina Nagar in Gurdaspur to protest against the pending dues of the sugarcane farmers amounting to over Rs. 200 crore... It will be followed by another dharna on June 13 at Jalandhar against the deteriorating law and order situation,” he said.
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From June 6, the Congress will start its second edition of ‘Coffee with Capt.’ (a dialogue campaign to interact with public) as well.
“Eighty fresh sessions will be held across Punjab with segments like farmers, women, traders, industrialists, NGOs and teachers,” said a party source.
Banking on PunjabAfter its poor show in the elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the Congress now pins its hopes on Punjab for its survival in national politics.
The Assembly polls in the State are due early next year.