The India Post, Chandigarh 31st January,2009 : Setting at rest the specualtions and in a strong rebuff to the critics about the so called differences within the party in Ludhiana, the Congress leaders today came together on a single platform to chalk out the strategy for the February 5 rally of the party which would be addressed among others by the chairman of the campaign committee of the Pradesh Congress, Capt Amarinder Singh.
The meeting was chaired by the senior Congress leader and former minister, Lal Singh and attended among others by the secretary and spokesman AICC, Manish Tewari, legislators Jassi Khangura, Gurdeep Singh Bhaini, Harmohinder Singh Pradhan, former legislators Surnider Dawer, Milkait Singh Birmi, Milkait Singh Dakha, the rural and urban district presdients Jagmohan Sharma and Bhulinder Singh, chairman HOUSEFED, KK Bawa, sitting and former councillors and other party leaders.
Addressing the meeting Lal Singh lambasted the Akali-BJP government in the state for having failed the expectations of the general masses. He said, the government was neck deep in corruption and it had turned out to be a family affair of the Badals. He observed, the common man was not being heard and he had nowhere to go. He claimed that the Aakalis were so much afraid in the state in general and Ludhiana in particular, that they were not able to decide about the candidate from here. Appealing the workers of the party to join hands and work harder, he said, the forthcoming parliamentary elections would be a referenduma gainst the ruling alliance.
Speaking on the occasion, Manish Tewari expressed his gratitude to all the workers and leaders for participating in the meeting. He said, the Febraury 5 rally will set the tone for campaigning for the forthcomnig parliamentary elections. He pointed out, the participation of the entire leadership of the party from the distict in today’s meeting was a clear and unambiguous rebuff for all those who tried to project that there was no unity in the party. He asserted, the Congress was absolutely united in Ludhiana as had been established during today’s meeting. He maintained, "there is total unanimity among the Congressmen and leaders that come what may Congress has to and it will sweep the parliamentary elections in Punjab with the largest lead from Ludhiana".