MAGHI MELA: SAD to give a break to mega rallies

MAGHI MELA

SAD to give a break to mega rallies

Decision on cultural event likely today

• Usually, the permission for the cultural event is granted by January 1
• Sources claimed that the decision was pending as the SAD had shifted its rally to Rupana village and party leaders were “pressurising” the officers to hold the cultural fair close to its rally venue

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 5

After holding six back-to-back Sadbhavna Rallies in the state, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is now geared up to hold another mega rally on January 14 during Maghi Mela in Muktsar.

But after that, SAD has decided not to hold any other major political rally for the next three months — till Baisakhi Mela in Talwandi Sabo.

SAD chief-cum-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal told this to party leaders in a meeting held recently at Badal village to discuss the arrangements for the Maghi Mela rally, said a senior SAD leader of Malwa region who was also present at the meeting.

Cultural event takes backseat

This year, the annual cultural event — holding of Maghi Mela by installing swings — has taken a backseat. The district administration has so far not even permitted any site for the installation of swings, hold circus and other cultural events. Usually, the permission is granted by January 1 for this purpose.

However, sources claimed that the decision in this regard was pending just because the SAD shifted its rally venue to Rupana village from Muktsar town and the party leaders were now “pressurising” the officers to hold the cultural fair close to its rally venue.

When asked, Jaskiran Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, said, “The permission to hold the mela will be given tomorrow. We are trying to hold it inside the town, easily accessible to the public.”

Parties get ready

Sukhbir has also assigned them the task of bringing people in buses. For instance, the SAD leaders have been told to ferry people in 200 buses each from Lambi and Jalalabad Assembly segments, 150 buses each from Malout, Gidderbaha and Guruharsahai Assembly segments, 100 buses each from Abohar, Faridkot, Kotkapura, Maur, Bathinda, Talwandi Sabo and Zira Assembly segments, 50 buses from Fazilka Assembly segment. Besides the constituency incharges, key leaders have been told to bring people in minimum 10 vehicles.

Besides, the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) will bring in a large number of people by arranging hundreds of two wheelers and cars to take out a road show that will give a rousing welcome to Sukhbir.

On whether any Union Minister of the BJP was invited for the rally, Sukhbir said, “As of now, we have not invited any BJP leader from outside the state. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be our main speaker.”

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state leadership has also started touring villages here to mobilise people for their Maghi Mela rally. AAP’s state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur yesterday visited Sukhna Ablu village where the party organised a ‘Jan Chetna’ rally to appeal to the public to come to their rally.

The rally will be addressed by Delhi Chief Minister-cum-AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. However, the party leadership here could not get a good response as more than half of the ‘pandal’ was vacant.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar too has made an announcement to hold a series of public meetings in Muktsar district from January 7 to 9.

Security arrangements

In the wake of the Pathankot terrorist attack, the state police have been making tight security arrangements for the Maghi Mela and the political conferences that will be attended by a large number of VVIPs.

Courtesy: The Tribune