Chandigarh, Oct 29 (PTI) The 'Insaaf rally' to be addressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Sangrur on November 4 would serve as a decisive platform in the fight for Punjab's rights, future and justice, state party president Pargat Singh said on Thursday.
He said the rally is expected to draw more than one lakh people from across Punjab.
Singh said the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, despite being accountable, remained silent on issues affecting farmers, youth and ordinary citizens for the last four-and-a-half years, and under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress will now raise strong questions on law and order, drugs, unemployment, paddy procurement and sacrilege cases.
The November 4 'Insaaf rally' would be more than a political event, he said. "It would be a voice for Punjab's rights, farmers' concerns, the future of its youth and the people's demand for justice. Punjab needs accountable governance to overcome the crises of drugs, unemployment and deteriorating law and order."
Singh said the situation in Punjab is becoming increasingly worrying. The government has failed to resolve people's problems. Instead of listening to public concerns, the government's handling of them was steadily eroding the confidence of ordinary citizens.
Singh said he had already warned the Assembly that the AAP government was turning Punjab into a "police state".
The morale of the police and civil administration is low, while public confidence in the police is weakening, he alleged.
The BJP has weakened the natural functioning of democratic institutions at the national level; AAP is doing the same in Punjab, he charged.
On paddy procurement, Singh said farmers were struggling to sell their crops but the government "failed" to offer any concrete solution. He asked why Punjab's farmers were not being assured fair paddy prices and timely procurement when better rates were being discussed in other states.
"Farmers need more than assurances," the Punjab Congress chief said, "They need smooth procurement in mandis and the full value of their hard work."
On the 2015 sacrilege cases, Singh said people expected justice in these sensitive matters, but the transfer of cases outside the state has raised several questions.
Referring to the deaths of Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and Gulzar Singh in Sangrur, he questioned the law and order situation.
Every case must be investigated impartially, supported by solid evidence and handled in accordance with the law, he stressed. Police should inspire public confidence rather than deepen suspicion.
Questioning the government's approach, he said the government's failure to visit the family of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota and offer condolences has raised concerns about its attitude.
Singh said the actual scale of Punjab's drug problem was no secret.
"The future of youngsters in villages and cities is at stake. Unemployment causes widespread distress among them," he said.
Responding to a query, Singh said early implementation of the model code of conduct alone would not resolve systemic problems. The real need was to restore public confidence in the police and administration, fix accountability, and ensure that the system functioned according to established rules.
He asserted that if the Congress forms the government, every task in Punjab would be carried out in accordance with the rules, and no one would be allowed to act arbitrarily.
