- Chandigarh, May 30 : ALPHA NEWS INDIA DESK :—-Team Punjab Congress on Thursday unanimously reposed their full faith in the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and urged him to continue to lead the party as AICC president, to steer it through “these difficult times”.
They resolved that the “party’s poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections does not reflect lack of effort or direction on the part of Rahul Gandhi but was the result of BJP’s narrative of their brand of nationalism, which is against the secular fabric of the country.”
A resolution to this effect was passed by the Punjab Congress Legislative Party (CLP) and the newly elected MPs from the state, along with PPCC represented by its president, Sunil Jakhar, and AICC General Secretary Incharge (Punjab), Asha Kumari.
The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who congratulated all Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) leaders and workers, and appreciated their efforts that led to the party’s trend-defying victory in the state. The Chief Minister had invited all the MPs and MLAs, including the ministers, for tea at Punjab Bhawan this afternoon.
The resolution read: “The Punjab Congress Legislative Party (CLP) and the newly elected MPs from the state, along with the PPCC represented by its president, Sunil Jakhar, and AICC General Secretary Incharge (Punjab), Asha Kumari, repose their full faith in the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. They unanimously request Rahul Gandhi to continue to lead the party as president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to steer it through these difficult times. The CLP, along with the MPs and PPCC, extends their unequivocal support to Rahul Gandhi and urges him not to resign at this critical juncture in the party’s journey. The party’s poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections does not reflect lack of effort or direction on the part of Rahul Gandhi but was the result of BJP’s narrative of their brand of nationalism, which is against the secular fabric of the country. It is imperative that Rahul should continue to helm and strengthen the Congress in these challenging times.”
Seconding the resolution, Brahm Mohindra proposed inclusion of a special mention of the Chief Minister for steering the party to victory, but Captain Amarinder rejected the suggestion saying the victory should be dedicated to the Punjab Congress workers. A separate resolution was then passed to thank party workers for the Congress victory in Punjab.
“The Punjab Congress Legislative Party (CLP) and the newly elected MPs from the state, along with the PPCC represented by its president, Sunil Jakhar, and AICC General Secretary Incharge (Punjab), Asha Kumari, thank INC (Punjab) workers for their tireless efforts in achieving party’s spectacular win in the state,” said the resolution.
On a suggestion from Lal Singh, another resolution was passed to urge the AICC president to reject the resignation of Jakhar, who the party leaders felt had done well to lead the party to an impressive performance in Punjab.
“The Punjab Congress Legislative Party (CLP) and the newly elected MPs from the state, along with the PPCC, and AICC General Secretary Incharge (Punjab), Asha Kumari, unanimously resolve to urge AICC President to reject the resignation of PPCC President Sunil Jakhar. They repose faith in Jakhar’s leadership and feel he should continue to serve the party as its president.”
Several MLAs said the results in Punjab clearly showed that the party was poised for victory in the 2022 Assembly elections and urged the Chief Minister to ensure that developmental works should be carried out in the cities and urban areas. Calling for development grants to be given to MLAs, they underlined the need for development works to be carried out by the administrative officials in close consultation with them.
Surinder Dawar said the funds sanctioned for development of cities had not been released and had remained on paper, while Inderbir Bolaria from Amritsar said the MCs had not done adequate work in the cities.
Sukhjinder Randhawa was of the opinion that the government should ensure punishment for the perpetrators of post-Bargari firing incidents at the earliest in order to full its promise to the people.
Manpreet Badal was all praise for Amrinder Singh Raja Warring for giving a tough fight to Harsimrat Kaur Badal and the Shiromani Akali Dal in Bathinda.
Even as he expressed concern over BSP’s growing vote share in Punjab Manish Tewari underlined the need to aggressively counter BJP’s agenda of Hindu consolidation to protect the nation’s secular fabric. (Wd thnx aagrwal)