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Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, May 14
In what could be a setback for Congress’ Mandi candidate Ashray Sharma, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi could not arrive here at Sundernagar to address an election rally today.
A rally by Priyanka was proposed by the Congress to counter the BJP rally organised at Paddal ground in Mandi on May 10, which was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress leaders said Priyanka’s visit was cancelled at the last minute because of bad weather conditions prevailing in the area since morning. The people were palpably disappointed when Congress election in charge for Himachal Rajni Patil informed them from the stage that Priyanka could not arrive here because of bad weather. Significantly, Ashray Sharma was also absent from the rally.
However, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, former Union Minister Anand Sharma, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Kuldeep Singh Rathore, former Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, former Telecom Minister Pandit Sukh Ram, Congress spokesperson Vijay Pal Chauhan and other local leaders were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Anand Sharma said that during the BJP regime at the Centre, inflation has increased manifold, affecting the common man badly. The Prime Minister always played the politics of vendetta against his rivals. He misused government agencies like the CBI and the ED to target his political opponents.
“The Prime Minister is demanding votes on nationalism saying that the nation is secure only under his governance. He was refraining from telling the people how many promises he had fulfilled in his five-year regime. The economy of the nation had failed to progress during the BJP regime”, he remarked.
Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh also lambasted the Prime Minister by saying that he was using derogatory remarks against his opponents, which is unacceptable. This only showed his restlessness because he knew that the people have decided to vote out the BJP.
“Similarly, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is also using unparliamentary language, which is not acceptable. I had considered him a civilised person but he is not (vo to chhupe rustan nikle)”, Virbhadra Singh said.
Congress election in charge of Himachal Rajni Patil termed the Prime Minister as dream merchant. She said that before the last Lok Sabha election, Modi had shown the dream of acche din (good days) which were nowhere to be seen.
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore, former Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, former Telecom Minister Pandit Sukh Ram and Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri also targeted the BJP regime in HP and the Centre.
Congress leaders urged the voters to support Congress candidate Ashray Sharma from Mandi Lok Sabha seat and ensure his win with huge margin of votes.
Priyanka’s message for Ashray
Unable to attend the Sundernagar rally due to inclement weather, Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi sent a video message to the voters of Mandi, urging them to support Congress candidate Ashray Sharma. In her message, Priyanka wrote, “I was very keen to visit Mandi to meet you, but bad weather cancelled the flight. Ashray is energetic, honest and keen to serve the people.”