Day 1 in Punjab: Amid bhangra, Rahul Gandhi’s yatra starts on musical note
Amid Punjabi folk dance bhangra and artists performing atop a number of vehicles in the cavalcade, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Punjab leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra started on a musical note.
From Fatehgarh Sahib to Mandi Gobindgarh and further to Barmalipur where Yatra halted for night, the artists performed Bhangra on various songs as the cavalcade moved.
A drummers’ band and a group of Nihangs moving with horses added another hue, making it a colorful road show as Rahul walked a distance behind.
Rahul Gandhi’s saffron turban sparks row in Punjab, revives memories of militancy
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Golden Temple in Punjab, wearing a saffron turban, has sparked a controversy in the state, with many saying it brought back memories of the militancy period as ‘kesari’ was a colour used by Sikh militants.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Manjinder Singh Sirsa posted an edited video of Gandhi on Twitter in which Gandhi is purportedly asking how the ‘kesari’ colour is different, to which Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring answers that there is no such difference.
“Besides being the colour of holy Nishan Sahib, Kesari is the colour of Courage & Commitment & is a colour in our national flag also! Everyone in this video including @RahulGandhi are ignorant about the significance of dastaar.
Rahul Gandhi, who resumed the Bharat Jodo Yatra Sunday noon after attending the last rites of late Jalandhar MP Chaudhry Santokh Singh, was later joined by Balkaur Singh, father of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala who was gunned down last May.
Dressed formally, Singh walked hand in hand with Rahul for a stretch. Both of them could be seen talking. Later, Balkaur Singh also gifted Rahul a portrait of Moosewala. Rahul had visited Balkaur Singh at Moosa village to condole Moosewala’s death last year.
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Anju Agnihotri Chaba reports
Rahul Gandhi resumed Bharat Jodo Yatra, after 30 hours of its suspenspension, from Lyallpur Khalsa College Jalandhar on Sunday afternoon. He had paid obeisance at Shri Devi Talab Mandir before resuming the Yatra.
Rahul Gandhi Sunday Sunday attended late Santokh Singh Chaudhary's last rites and condoled his family members.
People gathered in huge numbers to pay respects to late MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary's during his last journey from his residence in Jalandhar city to his native village Dhaliwal Kadian where his funeral took place. His son MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary who represents Phillaur assembly lit the pyre.
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AAP Rajya Sabha member Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal Sunday visited MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary's family to offer his condolences.
Rahul Gandhi and other Congress party leaders paid their respects to Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary during his last rites at his native village Dhaliwal Kadian.
After attending Chaudhary's cremation, Rahul Gandhi will resume the Bharat Jodo Yatra around 3 pm from Jalandhar. Apart from Rahul Gandhi, several leaders attended the funeral, including Lok Sabha MP from Faridkot Mohammed Sadiq, BJP leader and chairman of the national commission for scheduled caste Vijay Sampla, Congress MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh, Pargat Singh, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, MLA Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, former MLAs Rajinder Beri and Sushil Rinku.
Congress party leaders and kin of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary Sunday paid their tributes to the late politician. His funeral was held with state honour.
Former Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday hailed the Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying that Rahul Gandhi has been able to bring together disparate elements of the society and made them realise how important it is to ensure unity in the country.
Sibal, who had quit the Congress last year, said the party's Kanyakumari to Kashmir Yatra "optically" seems to have succeeded and gotten the support of non-Congress elements as well.
In an interview with news agency PTI, Sibal said conceptually the Yatra is a "wonderful idea". "I think that he (Rahul), during the course of his march, has been able to bring together disparate elements of society and made them realise how important it is to ensure unity in our country and that respect for diversity is at the heart of our nation moving forward," he added.
After attending late politician Santokh Singh Chaudhary's last rires, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will proceed to Lyallpur Khalsa college ground in Jalandhar to participate in an event organised by Jalandhar Cantt MLA and former skipper of the Indian hockey squad Pargat Singh.
The Yatra will then start from Khalsa college and visit several points in the city before halting for the day at Hemkund school Jalandhar. Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to stay overnight at Avtar Regency, Beas Pind Adampur.
Rahul Gandhi will resume the Bharat Jodo Yatra around 3 pm from Jalandhar on Sunday. Rahul had suspended the Yatra after two hours on Saturday morning after the sudden demise of the sitting Jalandhar Lok Sabha MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary.
Rahul will visit the native village- Dhaliwal Kadian- of the deceased MP to attend his cremation at 11 am. No songs, music will be played or slogans shouted when the yatra passes from Jalandhar today due to the tragedy that struck Congress in the demise of its sitting MP. Read more
As Rahul Gandhi wearing an orange turban paid his obeisance at the Golden Temple on January 10, a day before kicking off the Punjab leg of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, posters appeared on the walls of the Congress Bhawan in Ludhiana questioning the top Congress leader over his party’s role in the country’s Partition in 1947 and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.
The handwritten, anonymous posters read: “1947 mein Bharat toda, 1984 mein samaaj…1984 mein Sikh dangon mein sainkdon nirdosh maarey gaye… Rahul Gandhi aur Congress jawaab de… (The country was divided in 1947, society was split in 1984. Hundreds of innocents were killed during 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress must answer.)” Read more
Congress leaders expressed shock and sadness over the sudden demise of the party's Jalandhar MP, Santokh Singh Chaudhary, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday. Chaudhary (76) died in the morning after suffering a cardiac arrest during the foot march at Phillaur in Jalandhar. The Congress suspended the yatra for 24 hours as a mark of respect for the departed leader.
In a letter to Chaudhary's wife Kamaljeet Kaur, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi said she was saddened to learn of Chaudhary's demise and could understand her and her family's pain. "His demise is an irreparable loss for the party," she said, describing Chaudhary as one who stood by the Congress ideology and remained a dedicated worker all his life while serving the society. (PTI)
Congress MP from Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary, 76, passed away due to cardiac arrest during party leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra Saturday. Chaudhary was accompanying the yatra in the Phillaur area of Jalandhar district which falls in his Lok Sabha constituency.
Chaudhary is survived by his wife Karamjit Kaur, former principal of Government Sports College Jalandhar, and son Vikramjit Singh who is the current MLA from Phillaur. Read more
Reacting to the demise of Jalandhar Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary's demise during the Bharat Jodo Yatra Saturday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Chaudhary's loss was a "great blow to the party and organisation".
In a tweet, Kharge offered his condolences to the members of Chaudhury's family.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his condolences over the demise of the Congress' Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, saying he will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab. Chaudhary died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, following which the march was halted. He was 76.
"Pained by the passing away of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary Ji. He will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab," Modi said in a tweet. "Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," he said.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which was on Day 3 of its Punjab leg on Saturday, was suspended for 24 hours following the demise of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary. The Jalandhar MP’s cremation will be held on Sunday morning, Congress leaders said, adding that Rahul Gandhi, who visited Chaudhary’s residence to pay homage, will attend the ceremony.
Senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and former Punjab minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa announced the suspension of the yatra, which will now resume on Sunday afternoon from Jalandhar’s Khalsa College. Anju Agnihotri Chaba reports
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday remembered party MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary as a “down to earth hardworking leader”, and described him as a “strong pillar of the Congress family”. Rahul’s tribute came hours after Chaudhary collapsed due to a cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and was declared brought dead at a hospital. Chaudhary had joined Rahul’s yatra this morning at Phillaur in Punjab’s Jalandhar district, prior to which he had addressed a crowd in Sarv Dharam. (Read More)
Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, 76, who passed away while taking part in the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday, was among the senior leaders who gave Rahul Gandhi a rousing welcome as he entered Jalandhar district in the morning.
Amidst loud slogans hailing Gandhi, Chaudhary, the MP from Jalandhar, gave a speech for 3-4 minutes and walked with him for a couple of kilometres before rushing to the next point in a vehicle, a Congress worker who was present at the spot said.
While Chaudhary’s son Vikramjit Singh walked alongside Gandhi, Chaudhary hurried to the next spot where he had assembled people of all religions to greet Gandhi. The Congress worker said that Chaudhary went ahead to ensure that everything was in order. (Read More)
Congress Lok Sabha MP Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary passed away after suffering a heart attack on Saturday, while participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab’s Jalandhar. It is informed that Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Chaudhary's residence today. He will also be attending the cremation to be held on Sunday morning.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra has been suspended for 24 hours. It will resume Sunday afternoon from Jalandhar’s Khalsa college.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday expressed her condolences on the death of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary and praised him for being a dedicated leader and true public servant for the Congress ideology. "Shri Santokh Singh ji was a dedicated leader and true public servant for the Congress ideology. His death has caused an irreparable loss to the Indian National Congress," she wrote on Twitter.
After the sudden demise of Congress MP from Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary, the party suspended the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday and cancelled Rahul Gandhi's press conference in Jalandhar scheduled for Sunday.
Santokh Singh Chaudhary, 77 passed away on Saturday after a cardiac arrest. Singh was walking along with Rahul Gandhi in the Bharat Jodo Yatra when he collapsed after suffering a heart attack on Saturday morning. The yatra was suspended for the day.
Chaudhary was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara, where he was declared brought dead.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the last rites of the MP will be performed on Sunday and the yatra will remain suspended till then. (PTI)
The last rites of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, who passed away early this morning in Phagwara while participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, will be held tommorrow. "Haven't spoken to Rahul Gandhi yet but we all feel that after last rites we'll start the Yatra," Punjab Congress chief Amarindar Singh Raja Warring was quoted saying by news agency ANI.
"He was a down to earth hardworking leader, a pious person and a strong pillar of the Congress family, who dedicated his life to public service from Youth Congress to Member of Parliament," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter, expressing his condolences on the death of Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary. It is learnt that Chaudhary came out with Rahul Gandhi from Kusht Ashram in Phillaur when he collapsed, likely due to fatigue.
Congress Lok Sabha MP Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary passed away after suffering a heart attack on Saturday, while participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab’s Jalandhar. Chaudhary was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara, where he was declared brought dead. It is learnt that Santokh Singh Chaudhary was chanting 'Bharat Jodo' slogans from a Sarv Dharam stage set up at Phillaur.
Congress MP from Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary, 76, passed away due to cardiac arrest during party leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra Saturday. Chaudhary was accompanying the yatra in the Phillaur area of Jalandhar district which falls in his Lok Sabha constituency.
Chaudhary is survived by his wife Karamjit Kaur, former principal of Government Sports College Jalandhar, and son Vikramjit Singh who is the current MLA from Phillaur. (Read More)
Lok Sabha MP from Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary passed away while participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday morning. He had suffered a cardiac arrest, as per initial reports.
"In his long public life, he was always vocal on issues of public interest. Discipline in the House was the specialty of his personality. May God give peace to the departed soul. My condolences to the family members," Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla wrote on Twitter, as he expressed grief over the Congress MP's death.
Lok Sabha MP from Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary passed away while participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday morning. He had suffered a cardiac arrest, as per initial reports.
He was declared dead by doctors soon after he was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara.
The Yatra was passing through the Phillaur area of Jalandhar district when the tragedy occurred. The Phillaur Assembly constituency is represented by Santosh Singh Chaudhary’s son Vikramjit Chaudhary. Santosh Singh won the Lok Sabha election twice — in 2014 and 2019. (Read More)
Lok Sabha MP Jaladhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary passed away after suffering a heart attack while participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday morning. 'I am deeply saddened by the untimely death of Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chowdhury.. May God rest his soul in peace..,' Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann wrote on twitter, as he expressed his condolences on passing away of the Congress leader.
Lok Sabha MP Jaladhar Santosh Singh Chaudhary passed away after suffering a heart attack while participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday morning. He was declared dead by doctors soon after he was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara.