Latest news - Sonia Gandhi at Congress Rally in Varanasi

Latest news - Sonia Gandhi at Congress Rally in Varanasi

Thanks for welcoming at this rally. Before coming to this rally I went to Swami Swaroopanand Kutir which is symbolic of freedom movement in India. There I paid my tribute to the freedom movement leaders. Thereafter I was to take part in the Congress Convention. But as all of you know due to inclement weather the venue had to be changed. Now all the State Congress leaders are present here. I trust the discussions that took place in the Convention were fruitful. The decisions taken in the Convention will be useful to face challenges that we have to in the coming days and it will give more strength and direction to work effectively.

I am happy to be amongst people who have the honor to be in this city of Varanasi which is a centre of education and learning. This city is capital of religion and culture. It is a place of Sants, Bhakts, Poets and learned people. Besides this it has been work place of freedom fighters. The Congress has deep roots in this city. Freedom fighters like Pandit Madan Mohal Malviya to Dr. Sampurnanand to Kamlapati Tripathi of this place served both this state and the nation with distinction.

It is a land of social harmony. people living here have their own religion and customs. Yet they are all Banarasi and they all merge into a rich common culture. This shows their unity and homogeneity. This is the very message of this land.

Those who play parochial politics in this state, they believe and practice caste politics. They play politics of self interest and extortion. Such parochial politicians should learn from your rich traditions.

All of you know that once upon a time Uttar Pradesh used to be the torchbearer and provided leadership to the nation. Unfortunately for the last 20 years there has been some political forces who have been indulging into parochial caste politics. At the cost of good principles these political forces in place of self sacrifice for public service , have been indulging in politics of extortion. For selfish interest and greed for power such politicians have compromised the welfare of the people.

Nobody ever thought that two opposite but opportunistic political parties would go to that extent to entering into compromise of each ruling the state for 6 months in turn. Switching parties have crossed all proprieties of good sense. Today there is misrule and mismanagement all over the province. There is no body to listen to the needs or grievances of the people.

Recently the way the oppressive and brutal atrocities were committed on the farmers in Gautam Budhnagar we all are ashamed to see that all. It seems that a hideous conspiracy is going in the entire province in league with the state machinery for extortions and to grab lands of the farmers. Why this and for whom this is being done. Certain people are doing this for their self interest. How can we tolerate this? Certainly, we will neither tolerate this nor let it be done.

We are happy that the people of this province have begun to realize this grim situation. Again the people of the province have started to look towards Congress with expectations. They know that all major projects were completed during the tenure of Congress rule whether they were in the field of agriculture or industrial development or in the field of irrigation or electricity generation, or in the field of education or health.

But the situation today is that industries are being closed. The present government has sold out sugar mills to their own men on very low prices. The hospitals are without beds and medicines. The industry is vanishing from the province. The plight of handloom workers is worst. Keeping the plight of the handloom workers in mind our UPA government has sanctioned special package of Rs three thousand crores for them. As a special case duty on Silk has been reduced from 30 to 5 percent. As a result rates of Silk thread have come down by Rs 1,000 per kilogram. I hope this reduction in cost will help our brother handloom workers here.

You must have heard that our UPA government has sanctioned special package of Rs 7,000 crores for Bundelkhand region. We are concerned for the people of Purvanchal. I am aware of the sufferings of the people of Purvanchal. We will certainly do every thing that is possible for Purvanchal

But the most important thing is that instead of creating hurdles in the way, the state government should properly utilize the huge funds that are being made available by our UPA government. Keeping in mind the needs of the people, our UPA government has prepared mega plans and schemes. I need not delve into those schemes as you already know about them.

Recently we have given legal right of free education to children between the age group of 6 to 14 so that none of the children remain without education. For empowerment of girls of the age group of 11 to 18 we have started SABLA (empowerment) scheme. So make sure that none in the country remain hungry, legislation for Right to Food is being brought forward. We will be shortly presenting in Parliament bill for Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation.

We have always been working and struggling for aam adami and will continue to do so. I call upon our party workers to unite and dedicate themselves to solving the problems of the people. The continuance of that government has no meaning which cannot alleviate the sufferings of its people.

Today the entire province is gloomy. The rule of law has ceased to exist. The people are feeling insecure. As per information there is no place in the province where there is no extortion or corruption.

Some parties are accusing the Central government of corruption. But can't these parties see that their own governments are completely engulfed in corruption. These parties are pointing fingers on others. Do't they know that those who live in glass houses do not throw stones at each other.

You would have seen that the stern action which our government has taken was never taken by any other government till date. Did any other government take such drastic measures? Certainly not. Only we have taken such drastic steps.

Do you know the result of such drastic measures? The result is that in recent state assembly elections the Congress Party got support the maximum support. . BJP only 5-6 seats while the left parties got completely wiped out. The theme is clear. Whatever you sow, so shall you reap.

For this reason, I once again request my party workers that we should keep in touch with the people and make efforts to solve them. This way the party will gain strength and shall surely triumph in the Uttar Pradesh.

In the end, I assure you all the people of this city and of Uttar Pradesh that the Congress Party will value your trust in us and will never disappoint you.

I thank you all for coming to attend this rally on hot summer day from afar and distance places.