Sonia Gandhi writes to Anna: Lokpal Bill will be passed in Budget Session

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday wrote a letter to anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare with assurance that the Lokpal Bill will be passed in the upcoming Budget Session. The Lokpal Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in December 2011, but could not be put to vote in the Rajya Sabha due to shortage of time. Since then the government has not brought the Lokpal Bill to Parliament.

Sonia's assurance came two days before Hazare is set to begin his nationwide tour for strengthening the organisation of farmers. Hazare announced on January 16 that he would begin his nationwide tour from Bihar on January 30.

He said that following failure of farmers' organisations to unite, it has led to neglect of agriculture sector by the rulers. "Keeping in mind the need to strengthen farmers' organisations, I decided to start nationwide tour for one and half years and sit for satyagraha before Lok Sabha polls at Ramleela Maidan, New Delhi," he said.

Addressing the gathering after receiving the prestigious "Basava Krushi" (agricultural award named after 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara), instituted by 'Kudalasangama Lingayat Panchamasali Mahapeeth' in Bagalkot, Anna declared: "I will tour in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Panjab and Karnataka and start agitation by organizing farmers community".

Sonia Gandhi stresses on pragmatic approach to boost investment to tackle unemployment

Congress President Sonia Gandhi while delivering her opening address at Congress’ chintan shivir at Jaipur said that “inroads have been made into  Congress traditional support bases” and reminded Congressmen of the need to gear up for political challenges in states where they have been out of power for long. Sonia Gandhi also stressed on a “pragmatic” approach to encouraging investment for fueling economic growth and fueling employment.

Sonia Gandhi stated that UPA’s “impressive economic growth” had helped in reducing poverty. Stressing on the need for inclusive growth the Congress president urged for better implementation of poverty alleviation programmer.

 The Congress party will be deliberating on the issues – political, socio- economic, organizational and foreign policy challenges - flagged off by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

About foreign policy Sonia  Gandhi made it clear that “our dialogue with (our  neighbours) must be based on accepted principles of civilized behavior.”  “Performance not patronage must be the ladder to advancement in the party,” stressed the Congress President.

With the party in poll mode, on the brink of a slew of elections in as many as ten states this year itself, Sonia Gandhi repeatedly spoke of the organizational challenges confronting the party and the need to function as a “disciplined and united team.”

Sonia Gandhi concerned over the unemployment among the youth

Development means overall welfare of the people; that is the belief of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress President and UPA Chairperson. She wants employment for the youth, satisfactory living conditions for the farmers, welfare of the workers, benefits for the tribals and empowerment of the women.

Sonia Gandhi was very much concerned over the unemployment among the youth. NREGA was a step to address this issue. She also raised this issue in Gujarat during her campaign and questioned state government’s development claims.  Sonia Gandhi had asked, “Lots of youth are jobless in the state. The health and education facilities are insufficient here.  My sisters in this state have been facing atrocities because of the worsening law and order situation in the state. Why all these happening here? If the government had given attention to your problems, you would not have faced so many problems”.  She said so because she knew that if a government is serious towards the issues of the people, it can definitely frame policies to tackle those.

“Farmers have committed suicide. There is no water or electricity available,” she added. The Saurashtra region, which has 52 Assembly seats, saw a spate of suicides by farmers following poor monsoon this year. The Congress had announced Rs 1 lakh compensation to kin of each of the deceased farmers.

Sonia Gandhi accuses BJP Government in Uttarakhand over misuse of Central funds

All India Congress Presisent Sonia Gandhi while addressing a rally in Uttarakhand as part of her campaign for the Congress alleged that the present BJP Government in state misused the Central welfare funds sent to the state.

Sonia Gandhi blamed the state government for callously misusing funds allocated under different centrally-sponsored schemes, including 100-day job guarantee to jobless under MNREGA and Rashtriya Grameen Swasthya Yojna.

The UPA chairperson contested the BJP government's claim of electrifying a sizable number of villages under another centrally-sponsored Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna. "The reality is just different. The funds meant for it were misappropriated or siphoned for other purposes instead of making full utilization of the funds allocated for electrifying a huge number of villages," said Sonia Gandhi. She said other centrally-sponsored schemes meant for poor women, children and elderly were never implemented "in a genuine spirits and sincerity, as the government had other objectives to fulfill".

This article is posted by pressbrief.in