Akali Dal workers protest against Sonia's rally in poll-bound Punjab

Moga, Jan 19 (ANI): Party workers of the regional Akali Dal staged a protest against Congress President Sonia Gandhi's rally here on Thursday by marching with black flags.

The incident took place in Punjab's Moga District, where the UPA chairperson was scheduled to hold a rally in preparation for the upcoming assembly polls.

The protestors here accused the Gandhi family of defaming the nation by indulging in several corruption scams.

"As Sonia Gandhi is about to come to Moga, everyone including the workers of Youth Akali Dal in the whole city is protesting her visit by showing her black flags. This family (Gandhi's) has defamed the nation by indulging in several corruption scams," said District President of Youth Akali Dal, Moga, Vir Pal Singh.

"We are showing these black flags because in the last five years, both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi never remembered Punjab and none of them ever visited here in these years to share our grievances. Why is she coming at all today for half-an hour to Moga?" added Singh.

Punjab is one of the five Indian states due to hold assembly elections this year.

As per the schedule planned by Election Commission of India, the state assembly poll in Punjab would be held on January 30.

In Punjab, the main battle is expected to be between the state-ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)- Bharatiya Janata Party alliance and the Congress Party. (ANI)