States » NorthPosted at: Oct 29 2026 6:41PM


Rahul Gandhi to lead Congress show of strength in Mann's home turf on Nov 4

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Oct 29 (UNI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address a rally in Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's political stronghold of Sangrur on November 4, in what the opposition party is positioning as a major show of strength against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party ahead of next year's assembly elections.
The rally, expected to attract more than 100,000 people, comes as the Congress seeks to put the Mann government on the defensive over rising concerns about drug trafficking, violent crime, unemployment and farmers' difficulties during the paddy procurement season.
Senior Congress leader Pargat Singh said on Thursday that the gathering, named the "Insaaf Rally", would challenge the government's record after more than four years in office and demand accountability over promises made to Punjab's voters.
"Punjab has received neither justice nor freedom from drugs nor relief for farmers in four-and-a-half years," Singh said.
The choice of Sangrur carries political significance. Mann represented the parliamentary constituency before becoming chief minister in 2022, making the rally a direct challenge to the AAP leadership in territory closely associated with its rise in Punjab.
Singh accused the state government of allowing public confidence in law enforcement to deteriorate while failing to tackle organised crime and drug networks.
"I had warned in the Punjab Assembly that the AAP government was turning Punjab into a police state," he said.
He alleged that political interference had weakened the morale of police officers and civil servants, undermining the credibility of public institutions.
The Congress leader also questioned the handling of criminal investigations, including cases involving anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota, and accused the government of failing to provide satisfactory answers on sensitive sacrilege cases.
Farmers' grievances are expected to feature prominently at the rally, with Singh accusing the administration of failing to ensure smooth paddy procurement and timely payments.
He also challenged the government's handling of Punjab's river-water interests, calling for a stronger legal and political response to disputes involving neighbouring states.
On speculation about the early enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, Singh said electoral restrictions alone would not restore confidence in the administration.
The Congress, which lost power to the AAP in a landslide defeat in 2022, is seeking to rebuild its electoral position as Punjab approaches another assembly contest.
Singh said the November 4 gathering would focus on governance failures rather than merely mobilising party supporters.
The Mann government has previously defended its record on drugs and law enforcement, but its response to Singh's latest allegations was not immediately available.
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