Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, June 18- The Punjab Congress leaders were taken by surprise as the news broke out of Rahul Gandhi reaching Dadu Majra village in Fatehgarh Sahib district to share the grief with the family of Surjit Singh who had committed suicide leaving behind three daughters and a son. Surjit was the farmer who had briefed Rahul about the pitiable plight of the farmers during his visit to the mandis of Sirhind, Mandi Gobindgarh and Khanna during paddy procurement.
None could have believed that the farmer who had espoused the cause of the farming community would himself commit suicide within days. It was after his suicide that his pictures briefing Rahul had gone viral.
Rahul landed at the Chandigarh airport and drove straight to the village, consoled the family and returned. He wanted to be with the family and not provide photo ops to the Congress leaders in the state who had earlier spoiled his visit to the mandis. In the process, he has given out strong signals that he would be there with the common people. This signal is all the more needed in Punjab where the Congress leaders are fighting against each other rather than mobilising the people despite strong anti-incumbency against the Parkash Singh Badal government.
Ironically, former chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh who does not recognise any other leader in the state could not spare a few minutes to visit the bereaved family. This is where Rahul Gandhi has shown the way to the Punjab party leaders.
Surjit Singh, who was under a debt of Rs 9 lakh, had committed suicide on June 10 last.
The cheque for Rs 2 lakh that he handed over to the family was a small but meaningful gesture.
It is the reaction from the family that is important. The family expressed anger against the Punjab government. However, Surjit Singh’s daughter got emotional and said Rahul Gandhi had given them emotional support like an elder brother. This is what matters and travels across rather than the rhetoric.
