The Hindu : National : Congress can provide stable governance: Sonia Gandhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 19, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Congress can provide stable governance: Sonia Gandhi

Prafulla Das

Blames Naveen Patnaik government for poor implementation of Central schemes

— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

Congress president Sonia Gandhi at an election rally at Bhadrak, in Orissa on Saturday.

BHADRAK (ORISSA): Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said the party had the ability to provide a strong and stable government in the country under the able leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In an attempt to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party’s oft-repeated charge terming Dr. Singh a weak Prime Minister, Ms. Gandhi said the country was in the need of a strong government and the Prime Minister had the qualities of a strong leader to lead the nation.

Addressing an election rally in this coastal Orissa town, Ms. Gandhi also blamed the BJP for dividing the people in the name of religion.

While highlighting the achievements of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government during the past five years, Ms. Gandhi said the Congress was always committed to the cause of poor and downtrodden.

Terming initiatives such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, tribal land rights Act and mid-day meal facility for children as “historic,” Ms. Gandhi urged the people to extend their support to the Congress nominees to help the party continue its good work for the benefit of the people at large.

Reminding the people about the contribution of Congress to promote country’s unity, the Congress president said the former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had laid down their lives for the country. Ms. Gandhi also came down heavily on the erstwhile Biju Janata Dal-BJP combine in Orissa stating that the alliance had only made false promises during its nine-year rule. “We don’t make false promises.”

She also blamed the BJD leadership for its hunger for the seat of power. “Till recently, the BJD leaders were with the party which divides people on the lines of religion. Such parties make the people, the State and the country suffer,” she observed.

Refuting BJD’s charge that the UPA government had neglected the cause of Orissa, Ms. Gandhi held the Naveen Patnaik government responsible for the poor implementation of various Central government-sponsored welfare schemes. “If they would have properly utilised the funds given by the Centre, you would have been able to see the change.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National