Ahmedabad, December 8
While moving about in this city of Gujarat, where the election campaign has entered a crucial stage, for a moment one gets the feeling as if one is walking in a Punjab town. Look around, and you will find “sardars” every where. It appears as if all “sardars” from Punjab have flocked to the city.

Of course, this city has a sizeable population of Sikhs. But those who are seen moving about in bazars or in various localities have come here from Punjab for a different purpose. Their brief is to work for the candidates of their respective parties.

The city has turned into a big battle ground for the Assembly elections scheduled to be held on December 12. The maximum concentration of workers of the Congress from outside, especially Punjab, is in this city. Led by Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Chief Minister, they have landed in hundreds not only in this city but also in Surat, Rajkot, and other parts of Gujarat. In fact, the Congress has gone all out to woo Punjabi voters, who have a significant role to play at least in a couple of constituencies of the total 12 local Assembly seats.

Besides the Chief Minister, almost all Punjab ministers and Congress MLAs, with their supporters, and have virtually swarmed the various parts of the city.

Capt Amarinder Singh today extensively campaigned in the areas where Punjabis are settled in big number. According to local Sikh leaders, the number of Sikhs settled in the city is around 80,000. There are 13 gurdwaras in this city alone. The majority of the Sikhs are well-off. They are either traders, transporters or industrialists.

Perhaps, that is why, the Congress chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has spoken to Capt Amarinder Singh to rush all his Cabinet colleagues and others to Gujarat.

Capt Amarinder Singh, who was honoured by the Sikh community at a number of places and also presented with a siropa at a local Prem Sabha Gurdwara, extensively campaigned for his party candidates in Punjabi-dominated localities. He was accompanied by Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, Mr Amarjit Singh Samra and other ministers. The campaign by Capt Amarinder Singh in such areas has given a boost to the morale of Congress candidates in the fray. Capt Amarinder Singh also addressed a meeting of Punjabi industrialists.

Capt Amarinder Singh sharply attacked the BJP and its other associates such as the VHP, the Bajrang Dal and the RSS. Appealing to the people to vote for the Congress party, he said the BJP was a communal party, the policies of which would one day break the country. He drew many parallels between Punjab and Gujarat. Both states have contributed a lot in the freedom struggle of the country. Both states have made a big contribution to the economy of the country. Both communities - Punjabis and Gujaratis - are very enterprising and hardworking. Both states have faced violence of big magnitude though in different forms.

He called upon Punjabis settled here to vote for the Congress, which alone could ensure peace in the state. “Without peace, Gujarat can’t march ahead”, he added. The BJP was a communal party. It was responsible for what happened in Punjab in the past months. “If Gujaratis wanted development, prosperity and growth, they should vote out BJP on December 12”, he added. In a violent atmosphere, minorities suffered the most, he added.