Rahul, Amarinder to stay overnight at Beas sect headquarters

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and state Congress president Amarinder Singh will stay at the headquarters of the Radhasoami sect on Saturday night, party sources said.

The visit and stay of these top Congress leaders assumes significance since Punjab goes to assembly elections in less than two months.

While Amarinder arrived at the sect headquarters, popularly known as Dera Beas, in Beas town, 40 km from Amritsar, Gandhi was expected to arrive later on Saturday.

"Both leaders will stay overnight at Dera Beas. They will meet the sangat (public) coming to the dera on Sunday," a Congress leader said.

The sect, which has millions of followers in Punjab and in the region, gets thousands of people from all over Punjab for its Sunday Satsang.

Punjab is home to a number of sects (deras) which have considerable influence on their respective followers. Political parties and leaders try to keep the sects in good humour.

The Radhasoami sect is one of the biggest sects in Punjab and has the maximum number of followers.

--IANS

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