Congress'' ''show of strength'' in BJP bastion in Jammu

Jammu, Jan 30 (PTI) Close on the heels of BJP''s''tiranga yatra'', Congress leaders, lawmakers and workersconverged in the saffron bastion here to pay tributes toMahatama Gandhi on Martyrs'' Day, in what is being dubbed as a"show of strength" by the party.

While Gandhi Global Family (GGF) headed by UnionMinister Ghulam Nabi Azad held a rally at Parade Ground in oldJammu city, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress (JKPCC)organised another meeting at Muthi on the outskirts of Jammucity which was attended by Union Minister Shushil Kumar Shindeand JKPCC Chief Saif-uddin Soz among others.

"I have never seen such a big gathering for an eventlike this. The cadres and officer bearers have shown thestrength of the Congress in J&K," Shinde told the gathering.

Muthi falls in the constituency of Domana, which isrepresented by BJP MLA M L Bagat who had defeated Congress''Mola Ram, a three-time winner.

"This is the biggest rally of the Congress so far inJammu. It is the strength of our cadres in Jammu," JKPCC ChiefSaif-uddin Soz said.

Besides Azad, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, DeputyChairman of Legislative Council Arvinder S Micky, MP LalSingh, J&K Ministers Nawang Rigzin Zora, Manohar Lal Sharma,Aijaz Khan, MLCs- Abdul Gani Vakil, Subash Gupta, B R Kundal,Naresh Gupta, MLAs including Mohd Sharif Niaz and formerministers attended the rally at the parade ground.

"A message is being sent to the BJP that despite itwinning seven seats in Jammu, we are now in command," a seniorCongress leader said.