Speech
Commitment
to Provide Strong, Stable Govt.
The
Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi's address at the inaugural
meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party on 15th
May in Central Hall of Parliament
Friends,
you have honoured me by reposing your trust and faith in
me. I feel deeply humbled, I feel greatly privileged.
I
stand here today, in the space once occupied by my greatest
teachers. Panditji, Indiraji and Rajivji. Their lives have
guided me throughout my journey. Their courage and complete
devotion to India has given me the strength to continue
on their path even years after their martyrdom. I would
like to remember them today, I would like to honour them
today.
Friends,
we stand here as elected members of this August house as
per the will of the people of our great nation.
Let
us never forget that it is to them we owe our positions.
Let us never slip, for even one moment. At all times, we
must act in their interest, at all times we must acknowledge
that it is their mandate that has given us this immense
responsibility, at all times we must be conscious of the
truth that we are in fact, their humble servants.
Let
us not revel in our victory. Let us greet it as a welcome
opportunity to effect the changes that may better the lives
of our brothers and sisters all over India. Let us understand
the sentiment behind this mandate. Let us each acknowledge
that the people of India have chosen us to represent their
aspirations not our own. The people of India have spoken.
They
have once again re-affirmed what we all believed within
our hearts. They have asserted that the soul of our nation
is inclusive, secular and united. They have decisively rejected
the ideology of the likes of the RSS. They have decisively
rejected the destructive and self-serving policies of the
BJP-NDA Government. They have decisively rejected the politics
of personal attacks and negative campaigns.
Very
shortly a Congress-led coalition will be in place at the
Centre. Even as we provide the pivot for the coalition,
it will be our earnest endeavour to respect and work closely
with our allies and partners. We will soon finalise a joint
plan of action with them. This plan will outline our priorities,
policies and programmes as one cohesive unit.
The
commitment to provide a strong and stable government dedicated
to promoting social harmony and peace unites all of us in
the coalition. The commitment to provide a firm resolute
government devoted to the welfare of the kisans and khet
mazdoors, of youth and women, of weaker sections of society
unites us all in the coalition.
The
commitment to provide a purposeful, effective government
focussed on accelerating employment, growth and investment
unites all of us in the coalition. We have an enormous task
ahead of us. The road is wrought with difficulties, the
challenges are vast. Let us not be complacent.
Our
party organisation has to be infused with new energy and
drive. In many states we have not performed as we should
have. There is now a momentum generated by our revival _
let us not squander it. We must utilize it as a catalyst
for change and progress within our own organisation.
Let
us build a new future defined by hard work and resolve.
I know that you have all worked tremendously hard in the
last few months.
I
would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to each
one of you and to express to you, my heartfelt gratitude.
I am glad to see a number of young men and women who have
joined the House today. A special word of greeting to them
and a special thought for all those who fought hard but
could not make it.
We
have succeeded against all odds. We have prevailed despite
all predictions of disaster. It has been a team effort,
a collective enterprise. We can take legitimate pride in
our accomplishment as we prepare ourselves for the task
of governance in the days ahead.
On
behalf of all of you, I thank the people of India from my
heart.
Thank
you.
