Congress to launch mass contact campaign in Punjab from October 12

Door to door programme will be held in the campaign, said Amarinder Singh

The Punjab Congress on Sunday announced a mass contact programme in the agrarian state with particular emphasis on farmers. The state elects its new legislative assembly in early 2017.

Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh told the media here that a door-to-door programme will be held in the campaign's first phase from October 12 to 25 with an aim to reach out to 25 lakh state residents.

He said the party aims to reach out to over 75 lakh voters and two crore people across Punjab in the next three-four months.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the state Congress leaders here.

Under the campaign, Congress workers will distribute forms to farmers to enable them to share information regarding their debts.

"If the Congress is voted to power, the farmers' debts will be waived off on priority. We stand committed to our promise of waiving farm debts," Amarinder said.

According to the Congress projections, each family in Punjab on an average is under a debt of Rs 1.2 lakh.

As many as 505 farmers and farm labourers in Punjab committed suicide in 2015 due to debt burden, a Congress spokesman said here.