New Delhi: Congress will launch a series of dharnas during this month in Punjab to build pressure on the ruling SAD-BJP dispensation in their bid to regain power in the state.
This was decided at a poll strategy meeting of top Congress leaders from Punjab with party vice president Rahul Gandhi here today.
Among others who attended the meeting include PCC chief Amarinder Singh, campaign committee chief and AICC general secretary Ambika Soni and party’s incharge of Punjab affairs Shakeel Ahmed, besides poll strategist Prashant Kishor, PCC vice president Lal Singh and CLP leader Charanjit Channi.
Sources said Congress has decided to launch agitations where people’s issues will be raised in all three regions of Punjab during the month of June to help connect with the masses.
Dharnas will be held in Jalandhar in Doaba region, Gurdaspur in the Majha region and Lambi in Malwa on various issues. Lambi is the home district of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, which he represents in the state Vidhan Sabha.
The first of the dharnas will be held in Gurdaspur to agitate against cooperative sugar mills that are to pay crores to farmers.
In Jalandhar, the issue will be deteriorating law and order in the wake of attack on Sant Dhandrianwala attack and the killing of Namdhari sect head’s wife.
In Lambi, the issue of money being collected by Akalis for government jobs will be highlighted.
Besides, a meeting of all district Congress leaders will also be held on June 6 in Chandigarh where further roles will be delegated to party leaders, the sources added.
Punjab goes to polls in early 2017 and Congress has been out of power for the last 10 years.
PTI