In view of the rapid surge in COVID-19 cases, the Congress has decided to cancel its rallies in the poll-bound states, including Uttar Pradesh, and has cancelled the much-publicised `Girls Marathon’ under `Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon’ campaign launched by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi.
On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra urging him to cancel big rallies in view of the anticipated third wave of COVID-19.
The grand old party also sought to suggest the poll panel to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from using government machinery and public money for inaugurations and making political statements at these events.
“With coronavirus cases seeing a sudden spurt across the country, Congress has decided to put on hold all its big public rallies and functions, including 'Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon' marathons, in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. Senior Congress leaders spoke to UP Congress leaders and took the decision in view of public safety. A decision will also be taken by Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) in other poll-bound states like Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur soon,” a Congress leader said in Lucknow on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the grand old party drew flak after some girls participating in a marathon run organised by the Congress as part of ‘Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon’ campaign were injured in a stampede-like situation in Bareilly.
The local administration has registered a case against Congress district president of Bareilly for violating Covid norms and also for not taking steps to avert the tragedy which led to injuries to three participants. The party had planned seven to eight marathons in Noida, Varanasi, and various other districts of the states in the coming days.