JALANDHAR, Novemeber 16: Punjab Congress dissidents have virtually raised a banner of revolt against the leadership of All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sitaram Kesri by demanding that Sonia Gandhi should take over the reins of the party. To rub it in, they have roped in known Kesri critic and senior Congressman Rajesh Pilot, who will be participating in their coming rally at Dera Baba Nanak on November 23.The meeting is expected to raise the demand for action against those found guilty by the Jain Commission, an issue that the Congress would rather have put off for the moment. Earlier, the rally was slated to focus mainly on the ``failures'' of the Akali-BJP State Government.By changing the main agenda of the meeting, the dissidents have upstaged state party unit chief Rajinder Kaul Bhattal on a topic that is close to most Congressmen's heart. According to sources, what turned the rebels firmly against Kesri was the response they received from the party in-charge of Punjab affairs, Meira Kumar, during their recent visit to Delhi. Earlier, Kumar had failed to turn up for their November 1 rally, despite promising to do so, allegedly at Bhattal's behest. When invited for the November 23 meeting, she reportedly told the rebels, led by former Pradesh Congress Chie (PCC) chief Santokh Singh Randhawa, to first meet Kesri.The dissidents instead met Pilot and got a confirmation from him to attend the rally. Former Union minister Buta Singh has reportedly also agreed to participate.The rebels reportedly impressed upon the high command that Bhattal had ``failed to effectively raise any voice against the working of the Akali Government'' and had instead ``embarrassed'' the party with her frequent public appearances with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.They also reiterated their demand for implementation of the ``one man, one post'' principle (targeted at Bhattal) and charged that committed Congressmen in Punjab were being ignored by Bhattal.The dissidents have also sought an appointment with Sonia Gandhi to apprise her of the Congress' situation in Punjab. Anil Datta, a member of the PCC executive, confirmed that they had met her private secretary, V. George, for the same.
