Congress rally at Longowal's anniversary a poor show

Longowal, (Punjab), Aug 20 (UNI) The lone Punjab minister Jasjit Singh Ranhdawa was the only figure among the main ruling Congress leadership of the state to show the party's presence at the 21st death anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal.

A little over 200 people were present at the Congress 'pandal' on the occasion, in contrast to the massive crowd at the public meeting of the main opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Mr Randhawa and the local Congress leaders paid tributes to Sant Longowal and to the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, saying that both the great leaders had given up their lives for the cause of peace and communal harmony in the country.

Mr Randhawa said it was the Akali leadership led by SAD Parkash Singh Badal which opposed the Rajiv-Longowal accord signed between the two departed leaders 20 years ago.

Significantly the police personnel outnumbered the gathering at the Congress 'pandal'.

Meanwhile, accusing the ruling Congress as the force behind the killing of Sant Longowal in 1986, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Parkash Singh Badal demanded a through probe into the incident during the erstwhile phase of terrorism in Punjab.

Mr Badal, who had then opposed the Rajiv-Longowal accord tooth and nail, said this while addressing a massive congregation to commemorate the 21st death anniversary of Sant Longowal here today.

''If a thorough probe is conducted, the Congress will come out as the force behing the killing of the Sant,'' he said.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley also addressed the gathering, stating that the Congress was the root cause behind the upsurge of terrorism in Punjab.

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