Mangalore: Widespread Corruption BJP's only Achievement - Sonia Gandhi in City
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Oct 18: Congress national president and chairperson of UPA Sonia Gandhi arrived in the city on Thursday October 18 amidst tight security.
Sonia Gandhi is in the city to attend the valedictory of Congress convention organized at Nehru Maidan. Special protection guards (SPG) are deployed in the city apart from hundreds of policemen.
Soon after landing, Sonia went directly to Nehru Maidan, where she first administrated the oath to members of Bal Seva Dal.
Addressing a gathering of party leaders and workers, Sonia Gandhi began her speech in Kannada with 'Yellarigu Namaskara', much to the delight of the gathering.
She said that she was happy to see the enthusiasm of the party workers. "I am sure this enthusiasm will bring us victory in the next elections. There is a new sense of hope in the party," she said, adding that programmes and yatras conducted by the party have recieved immense public response.
Taking potshots at the state BJP government, she said, "People are fed up with BJP. They have only made false promises and betrayed the people. Widespread corruption is the only achievement of the BJP."
Addressing her party workers she said, "We should reach out to the people and make sure that public anger is turned into votes."
She further added, "We need to communicate with the people, as workers have struggled during difficult times of the party. When Indira Gandhi lost in the 1977 elections, people of this very region supported Congress and stood by the party."
Referring to internal conflicts in the party she said, "There may be minor issues among senior leaders but it should not have any impact on the party workers. Personal problems should be kept aside and everyone should work together to bring the party back to power."
On the country's present economy she said, "Export growth has fallen and we had to make difficult choices with regard to oil and fertilizers. The financial policies brought about by the UPA have protected rural development.
"We have no control over the hike in petrol prices as they depend on international markets. About 80 percent of the oil is used for making petroleum products, but we still continued to subsidise kerosene. There was no other choice before the UPA," she said, ensuring that there will not be any further hardship on people.
Coming down heavily on the state government, she said, "When other states have increased the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders from 6 to 9, why hasn't the Karnataka government done so? Why didn't the state government reduce VAT on diesel?"
On UPA's FDI policies she said, "It is an irony that the NDA government had itself prepared the exact policy, but just for the sake of argument they are attacking us."
"FDI will ensure direct link between farmers and consumers, and will create new job opportunities for the youth. Ultimately, the consumer will pay less," she said.
On charges of corruption against the UPA, she pointed out at BJP and said that only Congress has taken up a genuine fight against corruption. "The RTI Act was introduced by the UPA, through which many scams have come out in the open. The Lokpal Bill was passed by the Congress in the Lok Sabha but the BJP stopped it in the Rajya Sabha. This shows that the BJP is only pretending to fight against corruption," she said.
"People of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Karnataka will give an answer to the BJP in the next elections," she added.
Stating that corruption was akin to "cancer which has spread in the society", she said "no other party has done what Congress has to fight it".
Speaking on Mangalore, she said, "This is the most beautiful city in Karnataka, a city which symbolises diversity and the secular tradition which has held the country together."
She called upon the party workers to defeat communalism, and urged all people to fight against such forces.
The issue of farmers who are facing tough times with regard to spread of yellow disease among arecanut plantations was brought to her notice by KPCC president Dr Parameshwar. In response, Sonia said that the UPA has already given a fund of Rs 700 crore, and more would be granted.
"The state government is always blaming the centre for not giving funds, but in the last five years the UPA govenment has given Rs 80,000 crore in total, whereas the NDA was able to give only Rs 30,000 crore to the state," she said.
Congress heavyweights Rahman Khan, Siddharamaiah, Motamma, Dr Parameshwar, Mallikarjun Kharge, Dharam Singh, B K Harisprasad, H Vishwanath, R V Deshpande, D K Shivkumar Janardhan Poojary, Oscar Fernandes, J P Hegde, Ramanath Rai, Vinaykumar Sorake, Abhayachandra Jain, Madhusudan Mistry, B L Shankar, Gopal Bhandary, U T Khader, mayor Gulzar Banu, Gopal Poojary, Manjula Naidu, Rizwan, Jaffer Sharif and others were present.
Shivanagowda of Bijapur performed yoga, while Suresh Nayak of Puttur displayed his amazing memory power. Both were much appreciated by Sonia Gandhi.
Earlier, KPCC president Dr Parameshwar stressed on coming back to power 'not because we are greedy, but because we want to safeguard the interests of those who have suffered in the state'.
He also said that the credit for the grant of international status to Mangalore Airport and the bifurcation of Yashwantpur-Mangalore Express goes to Congress.
Stating that 143 taluks were drought-hit in the state, he urged for Sonia's intervention in the matter.
State opposition leader Siddaramaiah lashed out at the BJP-led state government and said that it had saffronized everything in the state.
He further said, "There is no adequate drinking water in the state due to drought, and no fodder for cattle. The BJP government has misused the funds released under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employement Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). As many as 13 ministers in the state have gone to jail, and development is behind by 10 years."
He called upon the people to root out BJP from Mangalore and Udupi.
"We will win in all the assembly constituencies," he asserted.
After the convention, Sonia will head to Kudroli Shri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple where she will inaugurate the centenary celebrations of the Temple and also offer puja.