Dehra Dun : With social activist Anna Hazare now targeting Congress youth icon, Rahul Gandhi there is an air of uncertainty on the proposed visit of the AICC gen secretary to Dehra Dun, headquarters of Uttarakhand, on Dec 20, where he is to participate in a huge rally at the Parade Ground here, marking the culmination of the padyatra for a change in government.
Party sources said that senior state Congress leaders had been given an affirmative by Rahul that he would participate in the rally on Dec 20. Getting a confirmation from him, the party rank and file had been geared up to ensure that there is mass participation, specially from Dehra Dun and its peripheries, including cities like Hardwar.
After the rally for laying the foundation stone of the Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line at Gauchar, which was to be done by the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, but she could not make it at the last minute, the proposed Dec 20 rally is supposed to be the biggest crowd puller. In fact many feel that the gathering the Congress manages on the occasion, could be an indicator of its popularity graph.
However, party sources said that with Anna Hazare now targeting the Congress youth icon and the support that his one day fast at Jantar Mantar got not only from the opposition leaders, but the masses was the reason for the uncertainty. “Much will depend upon the discussion in Parliament on Dec 19, and the stand that the UPA government takes on the Lokpal Billâ€, they confided.
They said that as of now team Anna had rejected the draft of the proposed Lokpal Bill of the UPA government. The one day hunger strike by Anna Hazare on Sunday had sent a clear cut message to the masses that the person behind a strong and purposeful Lokpal Bill not being passed by Parliament is Rahul Gandhi, who has his reasons for nort doing so.
“Much will depend on what happens in Parliament on Ddc 19. If the centre relents to some of the demands made by team Anna Hazare to be included in the proposed Lokpal Bill, than it will send a strong message that Rahul is not an impediment, but if it does not the tirade launched against the youth icon could have a negative impactâ€, they felt.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
