This time, no show of ‘pagri’ at Cong rally

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22

Congress leaders of the faction-ridden Haryana unit will be unable to put up a show of strength at party president Rahul Gandhi’s Jan Aakrosh Rally scheduled for April 29 in New Delhi.

Sources say AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot and Haryana affairs incharge Kamal Nath have told several factions of the state unit that none will ask their supporters to wear turbans of a particular colour or raise slogans in favour of any particular leader except for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul.

State Congress president Ashok Tanwar has confirmed this.

Earlier, supporters of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda used to go to Congress rallies donning pink turbans, while those owing allegiance to Tanwar wore red turbans.

Not only this, supporters of Hooda, Tanwar, Randeep Surjewala, Kiran Choudhry and others would raise slogans in favour of their leaders in the rally to make their presence felt.

On October 6, 2016, Tanwar had sustained injuries when his supporters clashed with those of Hooda ahead of Rahul’s rally. Tanwar had to remain in hospital for a few days. He had even gone to the extent of lodging a police complaint against Hooda’s supporters.

The state Congress chief said the leadership has asked the Haryana unit to work together for the success of the rally.

Notwithstanding the call for unity, leaders of various factions of the state Congress have been mobilising support for the rally separately.

Tanwar has addressed meetings in 11 districts of the state, while Hooda has called a meeting of his supporters at his Delhi residence on April 25.

Rajya Sabha member Kumari Selja has addressed meetings of party workers in Hisar, Ambala, Panchkula and Yamunanagar, drumming up support for the rally.

“I am getting a good response for the rally. People of Haryana are fed up with the BJP government and want a change,” Selja said.

Surjewala and CLP leader Kiran Choudhry have also been touring the state to mobilise support for the April 29 event.

Will carry only party flag: Tanwar 

Faridabad: State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar has said all party workers and leaders are required to carry only a party flag and no one should wear a pagri for the Jan Aakrosh Rally. He said this while addressing a party workers’ meeting here on Saturday. “The rally’s aim is to exhibit party’s unity and strength,” Tanwar said. TNS