Priyanka to lead Congress' battle against Modi govt, chalks out 6 months protest in UP

Rae Bareli, Jan 16: On a two-day visit to her mother's parliamentary constituency here, Priyanka Gandhi today chalked out a six-month protest plan for her party men against the state and central government.

The 43-year-old star campaigner of Congress who reached here yesterday addressed the office-bearers of party's district, block and city units at the Bhueymau guest house.

According to the party workers present at the meeting today, Priyanka asked them to protest against anti-people policies of Prime Minister Modi and Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh.

The party units were asked to hold protests during January and February at the tehsils on issues like shortage of fertiliser, power and water. The protest over the issues would reach the district headquarters in March, they said.

The workers have also been asked to organise Holi milan at every nyay panchayat level and establish a direct contact with the people. Priyanka encouraged the workers to be fully prepared for the Panchayat elections likely in April-May and stated that the elections would give the party a chance to assess its strength, party workers said.

Congress would launch an agitation in favour of farmers in May raising the issue of support price of wheat and hold street protests in June against the "unfulfilled promises" of Modi government.

The party is also thinking to implement the six-month plan all over the country, they said. Meanwhile employees of Infotech Tower Infrastructure, who met Priyanka held a demonstration before the Bhueymau guest house.

The employees alleged that they got their jobs at the behest of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during the Lok Sabha elections but now no official of the company visits the local office.

Our salaries have been reduced to Rs 2,000-2,500 from Rs 5,000 and the number of employees has gone down to 27 from 57, they told reporters.

"We requested Priyanka Gandhi to either ensure us that the company is run properly or get us adjusted somewhere else," they said.

PTI