VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

AAP rally draws huge crowds

Youth urged to dethrone ruling SAD-BJP alliance for better future

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 23

Riding high on massive response to their political rallies in the district, the AAP cadre held another impressive rally in the hometown of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Captain Amarinder Singh here today. The rally saw a huge participation from the youth.

It appeared from the gathering that it would certainly ruffle a few feathers within the ruling SAD-BJP combine, as well as the main Opposition party, Congress.

Organised by AAP student wing Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), the rally was an occasion when the Gandhi Group Student Union (GGSU), led by Harman Virk, Armaan Cheema and Mannu Buttar, officially joined the AAP student wing, pledging its support to the party in the forthcoming Assembly polls. Over 4,000 youngsters from different political groups across the state attended the rally.

Party MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann and Gurpreet Ghuggi addressed the gathering and urged the youth to dethrone the ruling SAD-BJP alliance for the betterment of their future.

Taking a dig at Badals, Mann said they were trying to downplay the AAP effect in the state, but the fact remains that thousands of people were turning up at AAP rallies on their own, which vindicated its popularity.

“Both traditional parties (SAD and Congress) are hand in glove and they have been taking people of Punjab for granted. Now the time has come that they should be given the taste of their own medicine. They have virtually thrown the Punjab youth into drugs, which is struggling in the absence of job opportunities. The AAP will ensure that the youth are given jobs so that they become self-sufficient,” he said.

It is worth mentioning that the massive gathering has become all more relevant considering the fact that Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi had openly revolted against the Central and state leadership and distant himself from all party for over one year.

AAP protests atrocities on Dalits

Meanwhile, the AAP protested against the BJP-led Centre and SAD-BJP-led state government for their failure to tackle the atrocities happening everyday on Dalits across the nation. Led by Patiala zone coordinator Dr Balbir Singh and women wing coordinator Kuldeep Kaur, the party demanded the resignation of Chief Minister of Gujarat Anandiben Patel for failing to protect the lower castes in the state. Dr Balbir also criticised the incident of Dalit women being raped by people belonging to upper caste who committed the same crime in 2013. AAP sought resignation of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the case. They also sought the registration of a case against Akali MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Virsa Singh Valtoha for his alleged statement against Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

‘Impressed with Durgesh’s vision for Punjab’

• Harman Virk and Armaan claimed that this was the first time they had decided to join any political party since their ideology gels with that of the AAP. “We met Durgesh Pathak, national organisation building head of the AAP, initially and were highly impressed with his vision for Punjab. That’s what motivated us to join him for the making of a better Punjab,” they said.