CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu would lead a march of party leaders, including the council of ministers, from Mohali to Lakhimpur Kheri on Thursday via the Saharanpur border of UP to meet families of farmers killed in the violence on Sunday.
Sidhu had tweeted on Tuesday that Punjab Congress would march towards Lakhimpur Kheri if Priyanka Gandhi was not released by the next day and if Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra's son was not held in connection with the violence in Lakhimpur. Priyanka Gandhi was released from detention at a PAC guesthouse in Sitapur on Wednesday evening and left with her brother Rahul Gandhi for Lakhimpur Kheri.
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee has directed party men to assemble at the Mohali international airport intersection on Patiala road at 10 am on Thursday.
Uttarakhand team too
Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat will also move to Lakhimpur Kheri on Thursday with the Uttarakhand Congress team led-by state party president Ganesh Godiyal. Rawat and other Congress leaders will start from Ramnagar and then move through Bajpur and Bareilly to reach Lakhimpur Kheri.
PPCC seeks 200 vehicles from each constituency
The Congress convoy would proceed from there to Derabassi, Barwala before reaching the Saharanpur border.
The PPCC has directed that at least 200 vehicles from each assembly constituency under the leadership of respective district and block presidents should join the march.
PPCC general secretary Pargat Singh, who is also minister of education and sports, said there will be a convoy of nearly 10,000 vehicles in the march.
"Punjab Congress is going to protest collectively and with all ministers. Our chief minister has already announced compensation of Rs 50 lakh each to the victim families on Wednesday," he added.
Congress leader from Derabassi, Deepinder Singh Dhillon said that they would try to reach Lakhimpur Kheri but it is up to the Uttar Pradesh police whether they give them the permission to reach there or not.
"Even if the UP government gives permission to five persons, we will send five leaders," he added.
