Ludhiana, February 26
The Punjab Congress is pulling out all stops to ensure the Maha Rally in Barnala on February 28 becomes a landmark political event. With Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi set to address the gathering, the party leadership is projecting the rally as a decisive moment in its campaign against what it terms the “anti-people policies” of the Narendra Modi-led Union government and the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government.
At the center of this mobilization drive is Senior Congress leader Pawan Dewan, former President of the Ludhiana (Urban) District Congress Committee and ex-Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board. Appointed as coordinator for Nihal Singh Wala (Moga), Dewan has been spearheading preparations with a series of intensive meetings, instructing local leaders and workers to guarantee maximum participation and foolproof arrangements.
Dewan has emphasized that the people of Punjab are deeply disillusioned with the policies of both the Centre and the state government and see Rahul Gandhi’s rally as a platform to voice their frustration. “Under the leadership of Punjab Pradesh Congress (PPCC) President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, all-out efforts have been made to ensure that people from every corner of Punjab attend the rally,” Dewan added. He said with conviction, “Rahul Ji’s voice will resonate across the state and February 28 will mark the beginning of the countdown for the AAP government’s ouster.”
The seriousness of the Congress leadership is evident in the scale of preparations. Raja Warring has been personally supervising the campaign machinery, coordinating with district units and ensuring that the rally reflects the party’s strength and unity. Apart from Nihal Singh Wala, making extra efforts, Dewan is also convening meeting in his home town. One such meeting was held in Ludhian’s Sarabha Nagar, where a large number of party leaders and workers pledged their commitment to making Barnala a historic show of strength.
“The mood within the Congress ranks is upbeat. Leaders and workers alike believe the rally will send a strong message to both the ruling AAP in Punjab and the BJP at the Centre. The Barnala event is being positioned not merely as a protest against the scrapping of MGNREGA and the signing of the trade deal with the United States, but as a turning point in Punjab’s political landscape”, asserted Dewan, while adding that with the entire party cadre energized, the leadership united and Rahul Gandhi’s presence assured, Barnala is set to witness a political spectacle designed to shake the foundations of the ruling establishment.
