Sonia Gandhi wishes that no poor should suffer

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has always been saying that a country cannot develop if everyone in our society, including the poor, downtrodden, tribals and underprivileged are not taking part in the process of development. In all her campaigns and public addresses Sonia Gandhi did underline this important aspect of development. Following her footsteps her son and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi also highlighted this point on several occasions. Rahul Gandhi also argues that till the development reaches the grass root, overall progress cannot be attained.

In her recent addresses in Gujarat the Congress President expressed her concern over the bad state of affairs of the people in the state. “For inclusive growth of urban pockets, we have implemented JNNURM. You will be amazed to know that 16 per cent of total grant has been spent only on one constituency” said Sonia Gandhi.  She called it an injustice as it was against the principle of inclusive development.

That is why Sonia Gandhi dismissed the Modi government’s development claims and said they were hollow and false.  “This is a land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel who used to preach what they practiced. Now there are people who give big advice but not follow them” she had said.

Sonia Gandhi always raised the issue of suicides by farmers, unavailability of Narmada water, pending electricity connections, un affordable housing, health and education, all related to common man.  Out of her extreme concern over the state of affairs of the poor she had said, “Now they talk of filling all dams in Saurashtra with Narmada water. What did they do in the past 10 years. Manmohan Singh-led government has done everything to make sure project got implemented, but the present state government failed to bring Narmada waters to Saurashtra, which is shameful”. Sonia Gandhi was deeply saddened over the farmer’s suicides. “Farmers have committed suicide. There is no water or electricity available” she had said. 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.

Similarly, earlier, Rahul Gandhi also had visited the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and had personally realized the hardships of the people over there. After his successful intervention, the Congress-led Centre had sanctioned a financial package for the relief of the people over there.

Truly, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi set a new example of true leaders. They always went to the people, directly interacted with them, understood their grievances and tried their level best to solve those. Yes, at a time when leaders are indulged in only promising, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi prove just opposite. They do not believe in mere promising but showed the country that they deliver. The MNREGA, Direct cash subsidy, RTE, RTI and the proposed Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition Bills are examples for their commitment and concern for the poor.