STATE
Gujarat
part of a Bigger Plot :
Sonia Gandhi
 |
| AICC
secretary Anil Shastri along with Congress leaders demanding
Gujarat Chief Minister�s ouster at a dharna in Indore
(Rural), MP |
NEW
DELHI : The Congress President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, has
cautioned the people against the increasing communal disturbances,
describing the Gujarat situation as part of a "bigger
plot" hatched by a certain section of society to spread
communal hatred in some parts of the country.
"On
the one hand war clouds are hovering on our borders and
on the other, these kinds of incidents have only weakened
our internal security system," she said while addressing
a `Sadbhavana' rally organised by the Delhi Pradesh Youth
Congress (DPYC) to mark the 11th death anniversary of late
Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, here on 21 May.
She
felt the need to have a greater participation of youths
in national integration and in fight against communal forces
and called upon them to fight this social menace in all
forms and all fronts.
At
the same time, Mrs. Gandhi asked them to reach out to rural
youths. "Rajiv had great faith in youth and visited
rural areas to bring them into national mainstream, she
said, adding he had introduced many welfare schemes to help
them. But today's youth seem to be misled due to the indifference
of the government at the Centre, she lamented.
It
was Rajiv Gandhi who introduced new education system, promoted
sports and reduced the age limit for voting from 21 to 18
only to ensure the maximum participation of youths in the
service of nation, the Congress President said.
There
was no less disturbing situation during his regime, but
only after his deft handling we could reach peace accords
with ultras in Assam and Mizoram and were able to establish
peace in Punjab where terrorism was on the rise, the Congress
President recalled.
Earlier,
speaking on the occasion, AICC general secretary, Mr. Mukul
Wasnik, said Rajivji always worked for the weaker section
of society. The Youth Congress needs to be aware what is
taking place is disturbing our unity today, he added.
Remembering
the late leader, Mr. R.S. Surjewala, president, All India
Youth Congress, said at a time when external forces are
eyeing on us and internal disturbances are on the rise,
we need to get united in fight against the communal forces
under the leadership of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. He also came
down heavily on the BJP-led Government's wrong policies.
Describing
the late leader as a man of vision, Mr. Rajesh Lilothia,
president, Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress (DPYC) called upon
the youths to carry forward the works of the late Prime
Minister. He had special links with youths, Mr. Lilothia
said.
Among
prominent personalities present on the occasion were AICC
treasurer, Mr. Motilal Vora, AICC general secretary, Mr.
Ahmed Patel, Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Delhi Chief Minister,
Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, and former MP, Mr. Sajjan Kumar.
Wheat
for Gujarat
 |
| The
Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, flagging off
trucks carrying relief material for Gujarat riot victims
on the death anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi in Delhi |
NEW
DELHI : The Congress President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, flagged
off 50 truckloads of wheat — weighing around 500 tons
— which had been collected for the Gujarat roit victims
with the volunteers of Indian Youth Congress on 22 May.
Lauding
the immense humanitarian exercise undertaken by the youth
activists, Mrs. Gandhi exhorted the youth Congress to provide
succour to the thousands of displaced persons of Jammu and
Kashmir as well. She said these people were living in pitiable
condition in haphazardly set up camps and were in distress
as the State and the Centre had abandoned them.
The
meeting was attended, among others, by senior Congress leaders
Ahmed Patel, Mukul Wasnik, Mohsina Kidwai and Motilal Vora.
The president and the spokesperson of the Youth Congress,
Randeep Singh Surjewala and Rajiv Gambhir respectively,
later said that more help will be given to Gujarat victims.
