Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Punjab Congress’ internal rift spilt into the open once again as an organisational meeting in Ludhiana was disrupted by protests, sloganeering and a brief scuffle, with party workers raising “Bhupesh Baghel go back” slogans against the state in-charge.
The disruption occurred on Thursday during the ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, which is being held across Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Baghel and state unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring took to the stage when the sloganeering began.
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Some protesters were seen wearing T-shirts carrying the “Baghel go back” slogan.
Slogans were also raised in support of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, reflecting the continuing opposition to the party’s state leadership.
The situation escalated when Warring asked the protesters to leave. A brief scuffle then broke out between his supporters and those backing Ashu.
Warring subsequently accused the protesters of being “RSS sycophants”, saying there had been insistence that some people could attempt to disrupt the programme.
“Our programmes are going very well, and it is just a handful of people who are protesting,” Warring said after the incident. “I told them RSS sycophants because there was some input that some people could create trouble.”
Ashu’s supporters hit back at the Punjab Congress chief.
“Who is Raja Warring to label us as from RSS? We are Congressmen and we don’t need a certificate from Warring,” they said.
Warring also took on those attempting to disrupt the programme, saying he had personally stood by some of them when they were facing action from the state Vigilance Bureau.
Without directly naming Ashu, whom he referred to as his “brother”, Warring recalled staging a continuous sit-in outside the Vigilance Bureau office when Ashu was in custody for eight days following his arrest.
He also asserted that the Congress was not the personal fortress or monopoly of any individual leader and belonged to everyone.
Baghel, meanwhile, warned that the party would take action against those responsible for disrupting its programmes.
“There will be zero tolerance towards indiscipline,” he said, adding that those who had tried to disrupt party events would be identified and action would be taken against them.
He said the Congress’ external opponents were visible and identifiable, but alleged that “sleeper cells” and “internal saboteurs” within the party also needed to be exposed and removed.
He stressed that the programme was not the personal event of any leader but was being organised under the direction of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi.
Baghel also claimed that the party’s organisational campaign was receiving a strong response across Punjab and expressed confidence that the Congress would return to power in the 2027 polls.
The latest disruption comes amid a prolonged factional battle within the Punjab Congress.
The party leadership on July 1 retained Warring as state Congress president while Channi as chairman of its campaign committee.
A section of Punjab Congress leaders led by Channi has opposed Warring’s continuation as state unit chief and has demanded his removal.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
