Chandigarh, June 23
The Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan (RGPRS) Punjab today observed a one-day hunger strike and Satyagraha at the headquarters of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) in Sector 15, Chandigarh. This massive protest was organized against the highly illegal, unjust, and unconstitutional rejection of the nomination papers of the organization’s former National Chairperson, Meenakshi Natrajan, by the Returning Officer.
The historic Satyagraha witnessed the special participation of RGPRS National President Dr. Sunil Panwar and the organization’s former State President, Gagandeep Singh Bobby. The protest received overwhelming support from the senior leadership of the Congress party, with several prominent leaders participating in the Satyagraha and raising their voices against administrative tyranny, including Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon (MLA Barnala), Gurkirat Singh Kotli (Former Minister, Punjab), Kuljit Singh Nagra (Former MLA), Rupinder Singh Raja Gill, Happy Khaira, Fateh Singh Badal and Jashan Chahal.
Speaking to journalists on the occasion, RGPRS National President Dr. Sunil Panwar and State Chairman Advocate Jaspreet Singh stated that the rejection of former National Chairperson Meenakshi Natrajan’s nomination papers by the Returning Officer under pressure from the ruling party is equivalent to the murder of democracy. They said, “This blatant misuse of administrative machinery is a major assault on the constitutional framework of the country and the fairness of the electoral process. The Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan will never bow down to this dictatorship, and this struggle will continue until justice is served.”
Addressing the gathering, the visiting MLAs, former ministers, and senior leaders remarked that today’s Satyagraha sends a clear message to the government, which is drunk on power that every single worker of the Congress Party and RGPRS will not hesitate to take to the streets to protect the democratic rights of the public. The hunger strike, which commenced at 9:30 AM today, concluded at 5:00 PM in a completely peaceful and disciplined manner, showcasing the rock-solid unity of the state office-bearers, district presidents, and workers who arrived from all across Punjab.
In conclusion, State Chairman Advocate Jaspreet Singh extended his heartfelt gratitude to National President Dr. Sunil Panwar, the entire senior leadership in attendance, state office-bearers, district presidents, and all companions from every corner of Punjab who turned up in such large numbers to make today’s Satyagraha successful and historic.