Sangrur, Nov. 4 -- Sounding the party's poll bugle in Punjab, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday targeted the AAP government on multiple fronts, called 'chitta' a major issue in the state, and recalled his interaction with slain singer Sidhu Moosewala.
"Many years back, I had said that drugs are spreading in Punjab. The BJP and the Akali Dal at that time said Rahul Gandhi does not know anything about Punjab, downplaying the drug menace. Today, 'chitta' (adulterated heroin) is a major issue in the state," Gandhi said at an 'Insaaf Rally' here, kicking off the Congress' poll campaign ahead of the Punjab elections due early next year.
"People need a government that works for Punjab. Not like AAP, which is run from Delhi," the Lok Sabha laeder of Opposition said.
"Tell me, which poll promises did it fulfil?" Rahul asked the crowd, urging them to vote for Congress for jobs and a drugs-free Punjab.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, its Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot, state Congress chief Pargat Singh, and senior state leaders Partap Bajwa, Vijay Inder Singla, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring were present at the rally.
Gandhi also reiterated his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate on the latter's charge that Congress is anti-national.
"Come anywhere, sit with me and debate," he said.
Attacking the BJP, the former Congress chief said, "They say have a discussion in Parliament, but you switch off my mic; you don't let me speak in Parliament."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.