Addressing over 10,000 block level and district level presidents Congress president Sonia Gandhi blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for the" grave damage done to our secular polity, our society aand our economy by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government."
While applauding Congress victories in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram, she said more than defeat inflicted upon the party from the outside, it was party leaders from within who caused more damage. Speaking on the occasions several block level workers blamed infighting as the main reason for not doing well in the last assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Chattisgarh.
The Congress president named block and district level presidents as 'torch-bearers' and entrusted them with the task of spreading the good work done by the United Progressive Alliance government."Five years ago, we went to the people on the basis of our pledges. Now we go to them on the stregnth of our performance. As we approach the 2009 Lok Sabha elections,we are here to resolve to fight every battle together,wage every struggle and make sacrifice to seek renewed mandate from our people," Gandhi said
She listed a number of steps taken by the UPA government to show their concern for the aam aadmi. "The common man has been over-riding the focus of attention when it came to restoring "the age old values of secularism and communal harmony". Now, we seek fresh mandate to continue the battle against all those forces whose sole objective is to divide our society. We seek a renewed mandate to continue numerous programmes that we have launched in employment,education,health,nutrition,social secruity, housing and water supply," Gandhi said amidst thundering applause from the party workers and leaders. She particularly mentioned the Right to Information Act launched by the UPA government.
Admitting that some youth leaders do get the advantage of belonging to political families, sha aasked party workers to work dedicatedly and not be disheartened. "Under the leadership of Rahul we have made a good beginning in Punjab and Uttrakhand where elections were held to select youth for various posts," Gandhi said
She singled out the works of Nehru family and the nature of work done by them.Specifying the legacy of the Nehru-Gandhi family, she said that it would not have been possible to fight melt-down but for the bold decision taken by Indira Gandhi when she nationalised the the banks in 1969. This has enabled India's financial sector to wheather today's global storms," she said.
The Congress president took credit for bringing 90% of the country, who had been working in the unorganized sector and giving them the benefits of Aam Adami Bima Yojana and the Indira Gandhi old age pension scheme.
Sending political message to the electorate she reminded them that only the Cogress could fight terror."We have lost two PM's while fighting terror," Gandhi said.Without naming Pakistan she said it should desist from formenting terror and reaffirmed the nation's resolve in fighting terrorism.
Gandhi also slammed the BJP was using the name of Lord Rama to garner votes.
