Congress workers and supporters from the Ajnala constituency held a rally in this sub-divisional town on Monday to protest against the alleged targeting of Congressmen by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
The rally was addressed by Amritsar district Congress committee (rural) president Harpartap Singh Ajnala, who had lost from Ajnala in the assembly polls by a narrow margin to the SAD's Amarpal Singh Bony. Ajnala told the workers not to get disheartened and stand up against the "injustices" of the SAD leaders.
Ajnala told HT that the meeting was called on the instructions of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh, who is expected to tour the constituency very soon.
Giving several references of how his party workers were being targeted, the DCC chief said that a truck operator who had supported him was asked to switch over to the SAD if he wanted his trucks to run on the roads. He said that likewise, the arhtiyas who had supported him were being threatened that their licences would be cancelled if they continued to support the Congress.
Ajnala said that it was decided at the rally that Congress workers would sit on token hunger strikes outside police stations where fabricated cases were registered against their party supporters. "We will protest in a democratic manner and will not take the law into our hands," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Ajnala said that it was decided at the rally that Congress workers would sit on token hunger strikes outside police stations where fabricated cases were registered against their party supporters. "We will protest in a democratic manner and will not take the law into our hands," he said.
{{/usCountry}}He advised the SAD leaders of the constituency to concentrate on development instead of taking on those who had supported him in the polls.