The Congress and SAD rallies at Lambi and Patiala, respectively, saw an impressive turnout on Sunday with CM Capt Amarinder Singh and SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal delivering fiery speeches, but it was the popular surge at Bargari that stole the show.
As leaders of the two main political parties in Punjab tried to run down each other, the emotive issue of sacrilege and the subsequent police firing in 2015 saw people from Majha, Malwa and Doaba, a large number of them women, converging on Kotkapura, ‘langar’ packed.
They came on their own, in tractor-trailers, trucks and buses. Significantly, Hindus and Muslims were also seen participating in the march from Kotkapura to Bargari to protest against the sacrilege incidents in the state.
This came as a shot in the arm for AAP’s rebel faction led by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who was seen sharing the dais with Panthic leaders. The AAP’s official group was clearly upstaged.
At Lambi, the stronghold of the Badal family, Capt Amarinder sounded the bugle for the Lok Sabha elections, asking the people to wipe out the SAD from the state and ensuring Congress’ victory in all 13 seats.
At the ‘Jabar Virodh’ rally by the Akalis in the CM’s hometown Patiala, patriarch Parkash Singh Badal impressed with his hard-hitting speech. The sulking Taksali leaders were absent.
