Sonia Gandhi releases brochure for ‘Magic of hands’ painting competition

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi endorsed a national painting competition for schools having a unique theme – Magic of Hands—and with total prize money of Rs. 10 lakhs at her residence in New Delhi. While releasing the competition brochure Sonia Gandhi hoped that it would send out a good message to the students to create the awareness about the use of hands.

The painting competition, which has Rs. 5 Lakh for the school of the winner, Rs 20,000 for the winning student and Rs 10,000 each to 49 finalists, is being held in connection with the forthcoming 12th Triennial Congress of International Federation of Societies for Surgery of Hand (IFSSH) and the 9th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), scheduled from March 4 – 8 in Delhi.

In a meeting with office-bearers of the Conference organizing committee, Dr. S. Raja Sabapathy and Dr. Rakesh Khazanchi, Sonia. Gandhi also conveyed her wishes for the event. She also enquired in detail about the competition and its terms & conditions.  “We are happy that the painting competition is getting support from different quarters. Mrs. Gandhi was so keen to learn about the competition with such a unique theme, to which nobody gives due attention,” said Dr. Sabapathy, Head, Dept of Plastic, Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. He is the Chairman of the IFSSH-IFSHT 2013 Congress Committee.

Top 50 paintings will be selected by a panel of eminent judges. This will be communicated to the winners by 15th of February. The shortlisted students will then need to attend an authentication camp where they have to reproduce their paintings. These 50 paintings will be published in a book, entitled ‘Magic of Hands’, along with the title and names of the artists and their schools.

Sonia Gandhi: If we work as a unit and in the right direction we will get public mandate again

Congress President Sonia Gandhi while speaking on the last day of the Congress chintan shivir in Jaipur on Sunday said that there was no reason the party should not get public mandate again if it works in the right direction.

"There is only 15 months left for the elections. I am confident, if we work in the right way and are united, there is no reason we should not get public mandate again," Sonia Gandhi said addressing the last day of Congress' 'Chintan Shivir' or introspective meet at the Rajasthan capital.

The Congress President also said that discipline and unity was needed, and also added that party members should publicise the good work done by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government. "Several states are also going to polls. I think our biggest challenge is to be disciplined and united and present ourselves to people. The victory of the party is the victory of all of us," Sonia Gandhi said.

"We must tell the people of our country about our achievements. The government gives information from its side, but the party organisation should also publicise it," added Sonia Gandhi.

The 'Chintan Shivir' which began on Jan 18 focussed on chalking out a strategy for the 2014 general elections.

Sonia Gandhi wants to ensure adequate women empowerment

'Desh ki mahilaon ka samman, baad mein Bharat Nirman' is the slogan the Congress party plans to raise in the Jaipur summit demanding 50 per cent job quota for women. At the behest of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, some senior party leaders are expected to ask the government to explore the possibility of providing 50 per cent reservation for women in government and private jobs, apart from making another effort to push through the contentious women's quota Bill.

Coming a month after the brutal gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in the national Capital that shocked the conscience of the nation, the Congress 's upcoming chintan shibir (brainstorming session) in Jaipur is set to give top billing to "women empowerment". The party brass believes that concrete, long-term "economic and legislative" steps, instead of knee-jerk reactions or piece-meal measures, will go a long way in real empowerment of women.

The mood in the Congress is summed up by the fact that party managers have coined a new slogan: "Desh ki mahilaon ka samman, baad mein Bharat Nirman"(the honour of the country's women first, then Bharat Nirman).

A resolution is likely to be moved suggesting that the government adopt this slogan. "Bharat Nirman may be a flagship programmer  but we want to emphasis our sensitivity to women and the problems being faced by them," a senior leader said. Sources said Sonia Gandhi's speech is expected to forcefully stress the need for major steps for women's empowerment.

The meet is also expected to direct all Congress chief ministers to give top priority to issues concerning women and fast-track measures for their uplift. It is for the first time the party has set up a committee to study gender issues and suggest solutions for a brainstorming session.

The party will also have a detailed discussion on the political challenges and alliances. Congress party wants the existing UPA set-up at the Centre to continue while remaining flexible in other states, except West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

The party's aam admi-focussed schemes such as Direct Benefits Transfer, Food Security Bill, Land Acquisition and Dalit rights will also be discussed in detail.

Besides, Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi will also address the shivir beginning Friday.

Sonia Gandhi reiterates the need to address the issue of corruption more seriously

Taking serious note of middle class protesters taking to the streets over corruption, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said the lifestyles of leaders is giving rise to questions about the source of their wealth.

Speaking at Congress's chintan shivir in Jaipur, SoniaGandhi said, "Celebrating weddings, festivals and happy events is one thing, what of lavish and ostentatious displays of wealth, pomp and status? Does this not beg the question, where is this wealth coming from?"

Her direct remarks caused a hush to descend on the meeting. "Our citizens are rightly fed up with the levels of corruption that they see in public life at high levels, but equally with the corruption they have to deal with in their daily lives,'' said Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi also urged the party not to lose touch with the middle classes that backed the Congress in the 2004 and 2009 general elections. The party cannot afford "our growing educated and middle classes to be disillusioned and alienated with the political process".

The candid references to the middle class drift away from Congress, the need to keep alliances intact, a commitment to make women feel safer, and erosion of party's base in traditional strongholds were key aspects of her speech as she set out the political tasks for her party.

Sonia Gandhi in Delhi: Opposition tries to weaken the democratic system

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Sunday encouraged the partymen with an aggressive speech defending her party and the UPA government at the centre. She also argued that only Congress is committed to work for the benefits of the poor and underprivileged.

Slamming the opposition, Sonia Gandhi said “I want to make it clear that these parties are trying to weaken the democratic system of our country.  But we will never let them to do so.  Congress is a party that has always protected the nation’s constitution”.  “We never allowed anyone to disrupt the democratic principle of the system and we will never ever allow such trends. The people who never find it wrong to indulge in weakening our democratic system, will never find it wrong to spread rumours about others” warned the Congress President.

Taking an indirect jig at BJP Sonia Gandhi added “Those who are talking about corruption are finding themselves neck-deep in corruption.  There is a saying that there are wells waiting for those who dig caves for others”. 

“Corruption is a cancer which affects the common man the most. But we have fought this disease before and we will continue to fight this disease with all strength once again. We will fight all graft charges against us and none found guilty will be spared.  It was the Congress, which brought a strong legislation to tackle corruption – the RTI, through which any one can get information about the government” explained the Congress leader.

“You just ask yourselves whether anybody can bring such an important legislation, other than Congress? Such a law can be enacted by only a government which is committed to fight graft effectively and it is only the Congress” said Sonia Gandhi.

Several senior Congress leaders including General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also addressed the rally at the historic Ramlila grounds.

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Sonia Gandhi in Delhi slams opposition for spreading rumours about Congress and UPA

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Sunday encouraged the partymen with an aggressive speech defending her party and the UPA government at the centre. She also reiterated that only Congress is committed to work for the benefits of the poor and underprivileged.

Launching a scathing attack on opposition, Sonia Gandhi said “Today there a lot of rumours are being spread against the party and the government. The opposition is levelling several allegations of corruption against the government. What is the truth and untruth in these allegations needs to be understood well.  The voters reposed faith in the Congress in 2004 and 2009. A few parties have not been able to digest this”.

Slamming the opponents for the negative stance, the Congress President added “ They have been trying to weaken the government elected by the people and they continue to halt our welfare policies by frequently obstructing the function of the parliament.  Why they are doing so?  Why they are opposing the policies which are meant for the poor and aam aadmi?  Why they are not allowing us to discuss the crucial issues affecting the people? “But I am sure that their real face will be exposed before the public” said Sonia Gandhi.

Several senior Congress leaders including General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also addressed the rally at the historic Ramlila grounds.

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Sonia Gandhi in Delhi: Congress has always been working for the poor

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Sunday encouraged the partymen with an aggressive speech defending her party and the UPA government at the centre. She also reiterated that only Congress is committed to work for the benefits of the poor and underprivileged.

“I feel very happy to see all of you at this historic Ramlila maidan.  I wholeheartedly welcome all the people who have joined us here from various parts of the country. We not only are glad to see you in large numbers but we also get encouragement and renewed energy from you” said the Congress President amidst cheers from the huge crowd.

Sonia Gandhi went on to say “You know that Congress party has always been working for the upliftment of the poor, aam aadmi, farmers, workers and all other sections of the people.  We not only led the freedom struggle but we also initiated the process of modernization in India. Our great leaders were an inspiration not only to us but also for the entire globe.  Congress always believed in secularism, and we have been working to unite the people.  No one can challenge us our commitment in this regard”.

Explaining the purpose of the mega rally, the Congress president said “We called this rally to make it clear that we will successfully challenge the serious socio-economical-political situation being faced at present”. Several senior Congress leaders including General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also addressed the rally at the historic Ramlila grounds.

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