The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday, 28 February, in Ahmedabad has been postponed in view of escalation in Indo-Pakistan tensions.
"In view of the prevailing security situation, the Congress leadership has decided to postpone its meeting of the working committee slated to be held in Ahmedabad on Thursday," Chief Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
The decision comes amid claims and counter claims of air space violations, and Indian Air Force and Pakistan Air Force fighter jets being shot down on Wednesday, 27 February.
He also said Congress President Rahul Gandhi has postponed his public meetings in Ahmedabad as well.
The crucial meeting of the top decision-making body of the Congress was to be held in Gujarat after a period of 58 years.
“In the 1961 CWC meeting held in Bhavnagar, the party had passed a resolution to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system and to take up balanced development through the third Five-Year Plan. The resolution also talked about strengthening unity in the country,” Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda told PTI.
Congress’ East UP in-charge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, was also expected to address a poll rally in Gujarat following the meeting, a party leader had said on Monday, 25 February.
Priyanka's brother and party President Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi were also expected to be be present at the rally, which was to be held in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state.
The ‘Sankalp Rally’ at Adalaj, to be held ahead of Lok Sabha polls, was being perceived by Congress leaders as a major morale booster to the party in the state, where it has been out of power for almost three decades.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also expected to attend the rally, Chavda told PTI.
Senior Congress leaders were scheduled to attend a prayer meet at the Gandhi Ashram before the CWC meeting, that was to be held at the Sardar Patel memorial building on Thursday morning.
India on Wednesday said that Pakistani jets had entered border areas of Nowshera sector in J&K’s Rajouri district and dropped bombs on their way out.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has claimed that the PAF shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace and have arrested two Indian pilots. However, according to media reports, the IAF has denied it.
This comes a day after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes across the Line of Control (LoC).
(With inputs from PTI)
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