Chandigarh: With the 2027 assembly elections drawing closer, the Punjab Congress on Wednesday launched its statewide ‘Punjab Mangda Insaaf’ campaign, announcing an extensive outreach drive involving cycle rallies, bus campaigns and foot marches to take the party’s message to every village, town and neighbourhood.The campaign aims to hold AAP govt accountable on issues confronting Punjab while also preparing a development roadmap for the state’s future.Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi will lead an eight-day statewide bicycle yatra, ‘Jawani Sambhal’, beginning Nov 12. The yatra will be flagged off by Congress Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot from Chamkaur Sahib.Addressing the gathering at Congress Bhawan, PPCC president Pargat Singh said senior leaders and workers would reach out across Punjab to highlight the state’s issues and seek accountability for the alleged injustice to Punjab, raise questions over drugs, deteriorating law and order, unemployment, corruption and other matters of public concern.Pargat said the Congress was not merely seeking to highlight the failures of the present govt but also wanted to develop a clear vision to put Punjab back on the path of progress and prosperity. A comprehensive development roadmap would be prepared after extensive consultations with intellectuals, academicians, experts, industrialists, farmers, labourers, traders, youth, women and social organisations across the state.Emphasising that Punjab’s future was not the exclusive concern of any political party or its leaders, Pargat said every citizen was a stakeholder in the state’s future. Farmers, labourers, employees, traders, industrialists, youth, women and intellectuals all had an equal right to express their views on the direction Punjab should take.He said the Congress would listen to people’s concerns and suggestions and seek to shape the state’s future based on their collective views and aspirations.Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said ‘Punjab Mangda Insaaf’ was not merely a political campaign but a struggle for Punjab’s rights, dignity and a better future. He said the Congress would bring together different sections of society, demand answers from AAP govt and prepare a development roadmap for 2027 based on suggestions received from the people.
