Title - Bansal makes a show of strength

Chandigarh:
After resigning from the Union Cabinet, former Union Railway Minister and local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal today set the ball rolling for a show of his strength on his home turf.With more than 500 Congress leaders and workers gathering at his residence in Sector 28 today, Bansal has given a clear-cut message to his rivals that despite allegations against him, the party workers are still loyal to him. He appealed to the Congress workers for not becoming over aggressive. He told them that let the CBI complete its investigation and after that only they would decide the future course of action. He also said it was a tough time for him and his family.Bansal also clarified to the Congress leaders about the allegations of the Opposition parties and media reports on this issue. While addressing the Congress leaders, he said people were twisting the facts and presenting a wrong picture of him and the members of his family.Congress leaders from urban areas, villages and colonies had started coming to Bansal's residence along with their supporters since 8 am. Their number continued to increase despite rain. Though a number of relatives also met Bansal, the members of Vijay Singla's family were nowhere to be seen.

The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) president, BB Bahl, while addressing the workers, said the Opposition should not feel happy that the party would change its candidate for the 2014 elections as Bansal would be given a chance again. And this time they would win with a margin of over one lakh voates. The Congress leaders were raising slogans like "Pawan Kumar Bansal zindabad", "Pawan Kumar Bansal aage bado hum tumhare sath hain" and "Jab tak Suraj Chand rahega, Bansal tera naam rahega". Intriguingly, Raja Bala Mailk, a former Mayor of Chandigarh, Sat Parkash Aggarwal, a councillor, were conspicuous by their absence.

After meeting with congress leaders, Bansal, along with the members of his family, left at 11.30 am for the wedding function of on of their relatives at Zirakpur.

Meanwhile, Behl said they had conveyed to UPA President Sonia Gandhi that all the Congress leaders and workers were with Pawan Kumar Bansal.

WORKERS REASSURE THEIR LEADER
Congress leaders appealed to the party workers to upload pictures and messages in support of Pawan Kumar Bansal on the social networking sites to refute the Opposition's allegations. The party workers were seen posing for photographs with Bansal.
To impress Pawan Kumar Bansal, Congress leaders were introducing Bansal to their supporters whom they had mobilised in his support. The leaders were reassuring Bansal of their full support.

BANSAL TALKS TO SCRIBE IN THREATENING TONE
When a news channel reporter questioned him about the involvement of his family members in the alleged bribery scam, Bansal said: "Tujhe bataun family ka matlab akele mein".
Satya Pal Jain, former city MP, while criticising the language used by the MP, demanded that Bansal should tender an unqualified apology to the entire media fraternity.