REPORT

Sonia Demands Quota for Economically Backward

MEERUT : The Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, demanded reservation for the economically backward among the minorities and upper castes. Mrs. Gandhi who was addressing a public rally here, on 20 October said the party welcomed the decision for a special quota for the Most Backward Classes (MBCs) in the State. But she sought to set her party apart from the others by stating that the Congress believed in speaking for all sections of society. "Others demand reservations only for their own people. Ours is the only party which is not influenced by considerations of caste or religious affiliation".

During her 25 minute speech she repeatedly said while her party was modern, progressive, its priorities firmly focussed on development and social harmony the other parties were divisive and unstable. "The Congress has a vision for the future, the others live in the past, we want to build a stable and harmonious society, others believe in dividing people. For us secularism is not just a slogan, it is an article of faith. Social justice is our motto and development is not just a poll promise, it is our responsibility", she said.

Mrs. Gandhi referred to the industrial and economic stagnation in UP and said that in the 12 years non-Congress Governments had done nothing for the betterment of the people. Speaking before a predominantly rural audience and that too in the kisan heartland, she dwelt at length on the farmers’ problems, the non-payment of dues to sugarcane growers, the erratic power supply and closure of sugar mills.

She attacked the BJP-led Government at the Centre and the State Government. She charged the State Government with trying to divide the people on communal lines and urged them not to fall prey to such machinations. "Corruption is on the rise, there is an economic slowdown, industry has been hit and the people are no longer secure, she said. "They have handed over a sensitive charge to a person who is yet to be cleared of wrong-doing, what kind of people are they," she asked.

Referring to the massive turn out at the rally, Mrs. Gandhi said, "those who wrote us off, must be very disappointed after these two rallies". She said that now there was no looking back, "we will not rest or go back on the course we have undertaken".

She urged the people of UP to renew their special relationship with the party. The rally organised by the local MP, Mr. Avtaar Singh Bhadana saw a large turnout of OBCs and Muslims.

‘Valmiki an apostle of Indian culture’

The Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, paying respects to Maharishi Valmiki on his birth anniversary

NEW DELHI : The Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi on November 1 extended her greetings on the occasion of "Maharishi Valmiki Pargatotsava" and flagged off "Maharishi Sandesh Rath" from her residence here. Addressing a gathering, she called Maharishi Valmiki as an apostle of Indian culture, religion, social traditions and political values.

Stating that Maharishi Valmiki’s greatest contribution to the world was "Ramayana", Mrs. Gandhi exhorted the gathering to follow the path shown by Maharishi Valmiki and imbibe the teachings of the great saint in true spirit. She urged countrymen to take pledge on the auspicious day to fight religious fundamentalism and eradicate socio-economic disparities from the society.

The programme was organised by the former MLA, Mr. Jaikishan, in association with the Maharishi Valmiki Association, Valmiki Veer and other socio-religious organisations. Several senior Congress leaders and Delhi ministers were also present on the occasion.