Rahul to attend Congress rally in Barnala on Feb 28

Chandigarh: The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will attend a public rally in Barnala on Feb 28. The event will be organised by the Punjab Congress.Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the rally would be held against the scrapping of MGNREGA and the signing of the trade deal with the United States, which, according to him, will have a devastating impact on Punjab.
In an informal interaction with the reporters, the PCC president said while the new law on MGNREGA would impact the livelihood of the poor, the trade deal with the US would destroy Punjab's farmers. He said Punjab would be among the worst-hit states since agriculture was the mainstay of its economy.Warring also warned that the trade deal might have a long-term impact and could pose multiple challenges. The Ludhiana MP said as the trade deal had the potential to destroy local agriculture once agricultural goods were allowed to be imported at a 0% tariff, there would be no work, no jobs, and no earnings for a majority of farmers in the state. They will be jobless, he said about the farmers."We are really concerned about such a situation if that happens," said Warring, adding that such a situation could always be exploited by enemies who were continuously trying to foment trouble in the state. He pointed out that Punjab's youth were already falling prey to drugs smuggled from Pakistan, and the state could not afford any other risks.The Congress leader, meanwhile, refused to react to the charges levelled by expelled party leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu. "Given the state of her mind and health, I don't think I need to react or respond to what she has been saying," he remarked, while dismissing her charges.The PCC president noted that she was not the only one targeting him with baseless allegations and criticism. He pointed out that even chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bikram Majithia, and the state BJP president Sunil Jakhar also targeted him.MSID:: 128607502 413 |