Sonia Gandhi to address rally in Barnala today

With Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s roadshow in Anandpur Sahib being cancelled after the Punjab Police’s refusal to provide adequate security cover, she is scheduled to address a rally in Barnala on Saturday in support of party candidate from Sangrur Vijay Inder Singla.

With Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s roadshow in Anandpur Sahib being cancelled after the Punjab Police’s refusal to provide adequate security cover, she is scheduled to address a rally in Barnala on Saturday in support of party candidate from Sangrur Vijay Inder Singla, amidst claims by the state unit of facing harassment for getting various clearances.

“The state government is creating hurdles in the Congress election campaign. After denying the per mission for Anandpur Sahib roadshow, it is trying to scuttle our Barnala rally.

I am waiting for clearances, but the district administration is delaying giving these to us on one pretext or the other,” alleged Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, chairperson, Congress Campaign Committee, Punjab.

She added: “When the state government can provide security to four rallies of BJP leader Narendra Modi within hours of each other, what is the problem in allowing a roadshow.

This is a state government conspiracy. I have been waiting for hours for clearances.”

Deputy commissioner Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu denied the allegations. “

All permissions were granted in time and per the procedure laid by the election commission of India,” he said. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Shakeel Ahmad and secretary Harish Chaudhry will also address the rally.