Centre's economic policy disastrous: Sonia

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of pursuing a "disastrous" economic policy, Congress President Sonia Gandhi alleged that it was "selling" even profit-making public sector units in strategic sector in "blatant violation of all norms and regulations".

"These PSUs were set up with public money and they are not the property of any political party," she said, addressing a massive Congress rally in the sleepy hamlet of Shillaru, 50-km from Shimla, in Himachal Pradesh.

These units were providing employment to weaker sections of the society and youth from poor families, Gandhi said.

She alleged that "mal-administration and corruption have touched new heights" under the present regime.

The BJP is engineering divisions in the society, Gandhi said, adding the life of the poor, backward, tribal and other weaker sections have become "miserable" and no efforts were being made for the uplift of women.

The BJP has lost the confidence of the people and a "wave for change" is sweeping Himachal like other parts of the country, Gandhi claimed. "This is the reason for the Congress' victory in elections in state after state."

Even in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress could win massive support of the people because of its policies laid down by great leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv

Gandhi, she said, adding, "Congress has never compromised on its principles and will never do it. Congress is not a party with leaders who change their stands everyday."

"Power is not the ultimate aim of the Congress. It is only an instrument to serve people and ensure their welfare. We will never use power for our selfish ends and never betray the trust and confidence of the people," Gandhi said.

On the situation in Himachal, she alleged adequate relief had not been provided to drought-hit farmers and announcements on introduction of crop insurance had not been implemented.

Fruit growers were not getting prices commensurate with their labour and cost, she said, adding the farmers were capable of competing in global market if proper facilities and infrastructure were provided to them.

If the country has registered surplus production of foodgrain and milk, it is the result of farsighted policies of the successive Congress governments, Gandhi said.

She charged the BJP government in the state with "playing havoc with the environment" and asked what could be expected of a government on which the Supreme Court had to impose penalty for not preserving the environment.