Sonia Gandhi in Karnataka slams BJP’s misrule; calls for change in the state

Chikmagalure: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, while addressing a mammoth election rally at Chikmagalure in Karnataka as part of her campaign for the upcoming assembly polls in the state on Saturday, launched a blistering attack on the ruling BJP government for cheating the people and ignoring the development in the state.

Sonia Gandhi started her address by striking an emotional chord with the people of Chikmagalure recalling how they had extended their support to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1978. “We cannot forget and we will not forget that the people of Chikmagalur, 35 years ago, lent a helping hand to my mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, when she needed it the most.  And I am here today to offer to you the helping hand of the Congress party now, because it is now you need it most” said Sonia Gandhi and the audience greeted it with huge applauds.

Slamming the BJP, the Congress President stressed that the present government in Karnataka betrayed the people's mandate and claimed that the people are looking for a change. “People want change and this feeling was seen in the recent local elections.. The need for change is now and you know better, why we need a change? You live here and you are suffering because of the bad governance of the BJP” said Sonia Gandhi in her first campaign rally in Karnataka, which goes to assembly polls on May 5.

"The BJP has completely betrayed the mandate of the people of Karnataka", she argued and continued “Immoral behaviour of the persons in the positions of power has crossed all limits. The law and order has collapsed. The mining mafia has destroyed the environment and has ransacked huge mineral resources, which are your property. Secular values of Karnataka society, in this region in particular, have been gravely damaged by fanatical elements only for their narrow and selfish political ends”.

Sonia Gandhi added that there was a time when industries competed with one another to invest in Karnataka but the situation now is opposite. She alleged that the industries are leaving Karnataka because of corruption, government interference and poor infrastructure. Noting that Karnataka has had a glorious past and brighter future awaiting, she said this is possible only if there is political stability. 

Taking a dig at BJP for frequently changing the Chief Ministers in the recent past, she said “For a brighter future for Karnataka, one should realise that stability is essential. We cannot afford governments, which keep on changing Chief Ministers every now and then.. A stable Government is the need of the hour in Karnataka”. 

“We (Congress party) reject any communal ideology. We reject any ideology or institution that spreads hatred and disunity” underlined the UPA Chairperson.

“Come out in large numbers on 5^th of May. Vote for Congress; caste your votes for stability; caste your votes for a future of pride of all the people of Karnataka and Chikmagalur” said Sonia Gandhi while concluding her address.

Sonia Gandhi in Malda talks about UPA's welfare policies for minorities

Congress President and UPA Chairperson visited Malda in West Bengal to attend the function for laying foundation stone of a Technical institute named after late Congress leader ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. "The UPA Government at the Centre has given priority for the welfare, empowerment and upliftment of backward classes and minorities. We, for the first time ever, opened a new ministry for minority affairs. We have been implementing the recommendations of the Sachchar Committee. We also have identified 90 minority-dominated regions across the country, including Malda, and sanctioned a new package for development. We have upgraded the Prime Minister's 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities and he has been personally supervising its progress" said Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi in Malda assures law to prevent crimes against women

Congress President and UPA Chairperson visited Malda in West Bengal to attend the function for laying foundation stone of a Technical institute named after late Congress leader ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. "We will soon bring in legislation to prevent atrocities and crimes against women. We are trying to pass the Food security bill so that poor people of this country don't have to starve" said Sonia Gandhi."Education is also an important sector in the growth of the nation. Our UPA government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh has given special attention to technical education and education. We have taken steps to update and upgrade technology in IITs, Medical colleges, universities and also have set up new technical institutes" she added.

Sonia Gandhi in Malda (West Bengal) talks about UPA's first ever all-women-bank proposal

Congress President and UPA Chairperson visited Malda in West Bengal to attend the function for laying foundation stone of a Technical institute named after late Congress leader ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. "For the first time in the history of our country, Rs. 1000 cr has been allocated in the current Budget for an all-women bank, to help women in their business ventures. We are also constituting a Nirbhaya fund with Rs 1000 crore. This fund will be used to protect the honour and dignity of our sisters and daughters.

Sonia Gandhi at Bhagat Phool Singh University convocation function

International Women's day, inaugurated a Women Medical College in Haryana. She dedicated the Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women to the nation on Friday at Khanpur Kalan in Haryana's Sonipat district. She also attended the first convocation ceremony at the University.

Sonia Gandhi slams BJP Govt in Gujarat for its anti-people policies

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi takes on BJP and says that the BJP government in Gujarat ignored the welfare of the people and development of the state.

Sonia Gandhi talks about the UPA's policy for farmers' welfare

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi explains about the various welfare measures taken by the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. She explained about the loan-waiving off policy for the poor farmers which helped them in a great extent.

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 has a great concern for the farmers

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi always stressed that development means welfare of the poor. If the poor and underprivileged sections of the society are not getting the benefits and they are not able to be a part of the path of progress, we cannot claim development, she always said.

In her recent campaign for the Congress in Gujarat, Sonia Gandhi had slammed the BJP government for its false claims of development. She said that the tribals in the state are in distress and pain.  “The welfare and development of Adivasis are our prime concern but the present BJP government has not been serious in this matter. They have almost killed the Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana”. “You must be remembering that the UPA Government at the Centre had waived off loan worth crores  of the poor farmers but still the condition of the farmers in Gujarat remains pathetic because of the anti-people policies of the BJP government in the state”, she added. 

“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.

Hitting out at BJP’s manifesto that promised 50 lakh houses in the next 50 years, Sonia Gandhi argued “Now, at the time of elections, they remember houses. They are promising 50 lakh houses. How many units will they construct per day? What kind of dream are they selling?” Dismissing Modi’s claims of Gujarat being a power-surplus state, she said, “Even today, 57 areas are dark zones and 4.5 lakh farmers are waiting for electricity connections even as the state is selling power to other states.”

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 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.

Uttarakhand Government not serious to implement Central schemes: Sonia Gandhi

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi kick started the campaign for the Congress in poll bound Uttarakhand. She said that the present state Government has been betraying the people in the name of development. Sonia Gandhi also said that the natural treasures of Uttarakhand are being looted and the only way to prevent it is changing the present government. Taking a swap ay BJP she pointed out that by merely changing the Chief Minister won’t help as what we require is a change in the Government.

“The Congress led Government at the centre have been framing policing for the benefits of entire people including Dalits, Adivasis, farmers, women and the poor. We implemented policies like Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Scheme,  Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, National Rural Health Mission, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Mid-day meal scheme, Gram Sadak Yojana, Self Help Group scheme for women aiming for the benefits of the people” said Sonia Gandhi.

“All the states ruled by the Congress has been implementing these policies properly and reaping the benefits. But the Government here in Uttarakhand is not serious in this matter. The entire development we witness today in Uttarakhand was done by the Congress. The IIT, IIM, Central universities, AIIMS at Rishikesh, different management institutes, all brought by the Congress and we have recently laid the foundation stone for the Rishikesh-Karna Prayag railway line” added Sonia Gandhi.

This article is posted by pressbrief.in

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Biography Part 12

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http://soniagandhiindia.com/
As chairperson of the National Advisory Committee and the UPA chairperson she played an important role in making the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information into law. She also actively involved in framing policies like mid-day meal scheme for the school children, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Anti Communalism Bill and Food security Bill. Sonia Gandhi is also keen to get the Women Reservation Bill implemented.
Pandit Nehru dreamt about a progressive nation. Indira Gandhi took his dream forward, Rajiv Gandhi put the country among the top nations in the world and today Sonia Gandhi leading India into becoming a strong and self reliant country.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Biography Part 11

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Sonia Gandhi campaigned for the Congress in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Congress managed to get a tally of 141 seats, largely due to her charismatic presence during the campaign. Travelling the length and breadth of the country in a whirlwind election tour Sonia caught the imagination of the masses by her emotional speeches. She was able to achieve an unexpected election success. The election results provided her with a unique opportunity to become India's Prime Minister. She sacrificed the post in favour of Dr Manmohan Singh.
Under her leadership India returned the Congress-led-UPA to a near majority in the 2009 general elections with Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister for the second term. The Congress itself won 206 Lok Sabha seats, which was the highest total by any party since 1991. She was instrumental in framing a Common Minimum Program when UPA was formed the government. She knew well how to run a coalition government better.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Biography Part 10

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Thirty one years ago I came to India as a bride of Rajiv Gandhi. And now I will spend my life till my last in this country and nobody can take away this right from me', the statement shows her real love for India.
Sonia Gandhi suffered two heavy blows in her life. The first was the assassination of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and then the sad and brutal assassination of her husband and the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by the Tamil militants. Though she had accompanied Rajiv Gandhi in all his campaigns, she never took interest in the politics. Since Rajiv Gandhi's death, Sonia Gandhi led a life of near recluse for six years but for her appearances at a few official functions. But a number of Congress leaders and supporters looking for a charismatic personality to lead the party to electoral success kept sending their appeals to her to come and take over the party.
The Congress faced a big electoral setback after the Narasimha Rao regime and many people had started to write-off the Congress. The pressure to revive Congress party started increasing. She finally acceded to join politics in 1997. In 1998 she was elected as the leader of the Congress Party. She proved herself as an efficient Parliamentarian and she took on NDA.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Biography Part 9

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It was not a standalone case of compassion. Her life is replete of many such acts of kindness. She was deeply pained when the drastic Tsunami hit Indian coastal areas. Her concern for the aggrieved was also seen during the flood in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh or during the terrorist attack in Delhi or when a number of farmers were hurt in a police firing in Rajasthan.
While turning down the post of the Prime Minister she famously said -- I always listen to the voice of my inner conscience. I have said on many occasions that my target is not the Prime Ministership. Today my inner conscience tells me to politely refuse the post.
The Gandhi-Nehru family is known for the sacrifice they have made for the nation. They always found it supreme to serve the people and the country. The present Congress President Sonia Gandhi has proved on numerous occasions that she also finds it important to serve the nation than anything else. "Sacrifice for the nation is not the tradition of politics but it is the culture of our nation, the culture to serve the human kind," said Sonia Gandhi once.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Biography Part 8

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For Sonia Gandhi politics is not the means to attain power but a medium to serve the people. It became abundantly evident as she turned down the post of Prime Minister despite having led the UPA to victory in 2004 general elections. The movie on Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi covers all aspects of her life. Be it her political thought or career, marriage with Rajiv Gandhi, her emergence as an effective Congress leader, her love for India and her compassion for poor all of it is nicely strung together in the movie.
Welfare of the poor, underprivileged and the children has always been high on the Congress President's agenda. A case in point -- when a massive earthquake jolted Jammu and Kashmir she cancelled her other engagements in order to reach and console the victims without any delays. She was forthright in extending help and support to the affected people.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Biography Part 7

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As chairperson of the National Advisory Committee and the UPA chairperson she played an important role in making the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information into law. She also actively involved in framing policies like mid-day meal scheme for the school children, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Anti Communalism Bill and Food security Bill. Sonia Gandhi is also keen to get the Women Reservation Bill implemented.
Pandit Nehru dreamt about a progressive nation. Indira Gandhi took his dream forward, Rajiv Gandhi put the country among the top nations in the world and today Sonia Gandhi leading India into becoming a strong and self reliant country.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Biography Part 6

http://pressbrief.in/
http://soniagandhiindia.com/
Under her leadership India returned the Congress-led-UPA to a near majority in the 2009 general elections with Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister for the second term. The Congress itself won 206 Lok Sabha seats, which was the highest total by any party since 1991. She was instrumental in framing a Common Minimum Program when UPA was formed the government. She knew well how to run a coalition government better.