After Chhattisgarh attack, Cong calls off rally in Kurukshetra

A 'Vikas Rally' convened at Thanesar block on Sunday, which was to be addressed by chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other Congress leaders, was called off in view of the death of Congress leaders who were killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Nearly 25,000 people had gathered at Anaj Mandi, the venue for the rally.

A 'Vikas Rally' convened at Thanesar block on Sunday, which was to be addressed by chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other Congress leaders, was called off in view of the death of Congress leaders who were killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Nearly 25,000 people had gathered at Anaj Mandi, the venue for the rally.

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The prime agenda of the rally was the inauguration of the Sunderpur flyover, which has been completed three months ahead of schedule. A public health centre was to be inaugurated and the foundation stone of a polytechnic institute at Umri was also to be laid.

The scheduled programme for the day included speeches by member of Parliament Naveen Jindal and the chief minister besides a cultural programme.

A few minutes after the chief minister's arrival, MP Naveen Jindal announced that in view of the events unfolding in Chhattisgarh it would not be appropriate to continue with the rally. He said, “Those who were attacked are part of the Congress family and lost their lives for the same mission for which we have gathered here today.”

Jindal announced that the charter of demands from the block had been conveyed to the CM and the rally would be held at a later date.

He requested the gathering to observe a minute's silence to pay tributes to those killed in Saturday's attack.

Jindal said the Sunderpur flyover will remain open to the public but the formal inauguration will be held later. He also put off all other engagements with constituents and headed back to Delhi to visit senior Congress leader VC Shukla who is admitted to a hospital in Gurgaon in a critical condition.