Jammu, Sep 24: Anticipating a moral boost to its ranks in the State, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) is upbeat over the two-day visit of party’s national general secretary Rahul Gandhi to Jammu and Kashmir, beginning from September 26.
 While the security agencies are busy in making arrangements at the venues of his visit, the party is burning mid night oil to mobilize its workers to prove its strength in all the three regions of the state, sources said.
 Sources told Greater Kashmir that Gandhi is visiting J and K to give a fillip to the ongoing membership drive of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) in the state. The membership that started on September 12 will conclude on October 9.
 “Congress has started massive mobilization of its workers, particularly ahead of the high profile visit of Rahul Gandhi. The party is making all out efforts to show its strength in all the three regions, especially in Kashmir Valley where the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party are the major mainstream political parties,” sources added.
 Congress spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, who was on his way to Rajouri for mobilization of party workers in view of AICC general secretary’s visit, said: “He (Gandhi) will arrive at Kargil on September 26 and interact with the youth there. He will then fly to Kashmir’s Islamabad (Anantnag) town to have an interaction with the potential candidates for IYC elections which are likely to be held by the end of this year”.
 He said Rahul is scheduled to visit the Rajouri town on September 27 and will hold an interaction with the youth of twin border districts Rajouri and Poonch. “His visit will definitely boost the morale of youth living in border districts as they always feel neglected and alienated. It will also encourage the youth of these districts to join the youth Congress,” Sharma said Gandhi, who is incharge of the Youth Congress in the country, will also hold an interaction with potential candidates of Jammu city for IYC elections at Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust located at Kunjwani-Narwal By-Pass road.
 “He is also supposed to meet the NSUI leaders and brief them about the union’s future activities,” Sharma said.
 Sources however said that Gandhi may chair the meeting of senior functionaries of the PCC to resolve the factionalism issue.
 Meanwhile, security agencies have also started their exercise to make fool-proof arrangements for Gandhi’s visit. A senior police official said, “Foolproof security arrangements are being put in place at all the venues of Gandhi’s interactions with Congress workers. We are making arrangements in consultation with senior sleuths of the Special Protection Group (SPG), who will supervise the arrangements”.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST