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Praise and petals for Sonia all the way

RAE BARELI: Thousands of supporters showered praise and petals on Sonia Gandhi as she drove to her constituency days after quitting the Lok Sabha amid Opposition charges that she wrongfully held a salaried post.

``Sonia's sacrifice outshines Mother Teresa's,'' her admirers yelled as she arrived in Rae Bareli, the electoral fortress of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

``When there is happiness or sorrow, one turns to the family first. You're my family,'' Ms. Gandhi shouted as thousands of supporters, including women and children, roared their approval and hurled garlands at their leader.

``Our relationship with Rae Bareli is not political. It is a deep, deep emotional tie,'' she said, borrowing statements from her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi.

``We are one and that's why I have come to you,'' said Ms. Gandhi.

Her backers had travelled miles on tractors and bicycles or trudged on foot to throng her in the town square as Ms. Gandhi, dressed in a cotton sari, folded her hands in a gesture of reverence and explained why she had quit her MP's post.

Earlier in the day, florists in Rae Bareli rushed additional supplies from nearby towns to replenish stocks amid soaring demand.

``I had asked for 50 tonnes of flowers but still I am not able to meet this demand,'' Rae Bareli florist Ramvir Upadhaya said ahead of Ms. Gandhi's 30-minute appearence.

``All florists here have zero stock today but we're not complaining,'' he added with a broad smile. - AFP.

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