Results of 5 states will show the country what people want, Rahul says at Mohali

Rajmeet Singh & Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service
Mohali, December 10

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the results of the five states on Tuesday would show the country what the people wanted.

He was speaking at the launch of the special edition of Hindi weekly ‘Navjivan’ here.

Rahul said, “We will win the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and remove Narendra Modi and the BJP from the Centre by all means.”

He said all institutions, including the Supreme Court and Army, were being used by the Prime Minister for political gains, putting the country’s independence under threat.

He described the media as a tiger that can show anyone his place. “But once it starts getting leverages, it becomes a paper tiger.”

He called upon journalists to do fearless journalism and act as custodians of the institutions and the Constitution.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, in his address, said Punjab had played a big role in India’s freedom, starting with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He recalled the historical events in which Punjab had played a key role during the freedom movement.

Singh said though the Congress had played a key role in the freedom movement, the country was passing through bad times for the last four years as the freedom of the country was under threat due to secessionist forces under the BJP-led government at the Centre.

He hoped Navjivan would play a major role in protecting the hard-earned freedom and values.

Congressmen turned up in large numbers to attend the function at the Multipurpose Sports Complex here.

PPCC president Sunil Jakhar was also present.

Moti Lal Vora, chairperson of Associated Journals Limited and a senior Congress leader, while welcoming the party leadership, recalled the historical events related to Mahatama Gandhi’s role and vision in freedom movement.

He said Gandhi launched Navjivan to raise the voice of the people against British oppression. To reach common people, a Hindi newspaper was required. “Navjivan played a crucial role in freedom struggle,” Vora added.

Sufi singer Sonam Kalra, who had recently performed at Priyanka Chopra’s wedding, sang bhajans at the function.

A short video clipping with messages of senior Congress leaders and on the state of the country under the Modi government was shown on the occasion.

Later, Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi called on the ailing Punjab Chief Minister.