Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday sought people’s mandate for her party to return to power at the Centre and in the State on the plank of sacrifices rendered by her husband Rajiv Gandhi and mother-in-law Indira Gandhi.
Addressing an impressive gathering at this road-side village, she claimed that the Congress was identified with the poverty alleviation. Nationalisation of banks, ‘garabi hatao’ and other programmes were initiated by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for the welfare of the poor.
Countering the BJP’s charge that the Congress soft-pedalled terrorists resulting in a rise in terror strikes across the country, Ms. Gandhi asserted that Congress stalwarts Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi had laid down their lives in defence of the country. She claimed that her husband Rajiv Gandhi heralded the telecom revolution and ensured autonomy to the Panchayat Raj Institutions and Nagarpalikas by bringing in 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution.
She stated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not a ‘lame duck’ as was being pictured by the BJP leaders. “Dr. Singh is an able leader endowed with political acumen”, she certified in her bid to counter the criticism that the Prime Minister was playing into her hands.
Showering praises on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, she described him as a crusader against poverty in the State. She recalled how ryots had reeled under distress during the TDP regime, till Congress took over. The Chief Minister cautioned that major irrigation projects like the Indira Sagar would be jeopardised if the Mahakootami was voted to power.
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