Statewide Congress rallies today

AHMEDABAD, July 19: The opposition Congress has geared itself to take out protest rallies at all the 223 taluka headquarter towns in the ...

AHMEDABAD, July 19: The opposition Congress has geared itself to take out protest rallies at all the 223 taluka headquarter towns in the state simultaneously on Monday and as a part of it, the Ahmedabad City District Congress Committee will take out a rally from Jyoti Sangh to the Collector8217;s office in the evening.

The party has has roped in former union minister Rajesh Pilot to lead the rallies at Mehsana, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad in that order. Pilot will be accompanied by Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president C D Patel and Leader of Opposition Amar Sing Chaudhary at all these places.

Giving details of Monday8217;s programme in Ahmedabad, ACDCC president Rajkumar Gupta told reporters here on Sunday that the rally would start at 4:30 p.m. from the Jyoti Sangh Hall, Pattharkuva, from where it would go to the Collectorate to submit a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, drawing his attention to the burning problems facing the people. Copies of this memorandum would be submitted to mamlatdars at all the taluka places, he said.

According to PCC president C D Patel, a local touch would be given to the rallies and variety would be added to the protest, like lamp procession, women wearing black, surgery8217; of brain and stomach of the government, tolling of death knell of the government and burning of effigies.

Former PCC president Prabodh Raval will lead the rally in Vadodara, Manoharsinh Jadeja in Rajkot, and Shaktisinh Gohil in Bhavnagar. AICC treasurer Ahmed Patel will lead the Bharuch and Surat rallies.

Patel has cautioned party workers against creeping in of any destructive elements in the rallies and attempt to tarnish the party image by bringing disrepute. In a statement on Sunday, he apprehended that members of the Sangh Parivar might try to create trouble. Patel said the rally plans were getting unexpected momentum and were bound to be a grand success.

Meanwhile, a meeting of State Youth Congress leaders was held on Saturday where its national general secretary Zubair Khan asked the state unit workers to mould themselves in an effective opposition. He also asked the state unit president Himmatsinh Patel to complete district level appointments at the earliest and give due representation to women. Patel gave a graphic account of the work done by district units in the recent past.

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In Junagadh senior Congress leaders Navinchandra Ravani and Mansukh Joshi will lead the rally. A memorandum will be submitted to the district collector. City Congress unit president M M Raval said that this programme has been organised to create awareness among people about government8217;s failure.