Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday hoped that the development work carried out by the UPA government in the last five years will pay dividends in the coming elections and cautioned voters against “elements which spread the poison of discrimination in society”.

“Our work (of five years) is before you. The hollow promises of our opponents are also before you. We hope you will take right decision at the right time,” Gandhi told a rally in Mewat region of the state Palwal, which falls under Faridabad parliamentary constituency.

In a veiled attack against the BJP-led opposition, she cautioned voters against “elements which spread the poison of discrimination in society.”

“Unfortunately there are certain elements in society which spread the poison of discrimination in society. We have to be careful from such elements. We will unite and not allow such persons to succeed,” she said exhorting people to unitedly make a “new India of the new century.”

A fragmented society cannot progress. We have to progress unitedly.

Our forefathers had got us freedom through unity and it is through this unity that we have to lay the foundation of the new India, Gandhi said.

“Those who create divisions should learn from the tradition and culture of Mewat,” Gandhi said, ruing that such elements think “they will be successful in their purpose by breaking the society… creating divisions in it.”

She said that any country or society can carry out any historical work, when its each and every citizen participates in it.

“This participation is possible only if we proceed with social and national unity. No progress and development is possible without unity,” Gandhi said.

Highlighting the works done by the UPA government for minorities, SCs and STs, Gandhi spoke about the creation of a Minority Ministry at the Centre, success of Prime Minister’s 15-point programme for minorities, NREGA, Bharat Nirman Yojna, farmers loan waiver scheme and steps to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of foodgrains.

“No country can progress without the participation of minorities and weaker sections. PM’s 15-point programme is a special effort to bring the minorities in the mainstream. For the first time a Minority Affairs Ministry was set up at the Centre,” Gandhi said.

“Understanding the pain of farmers, our UPA government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh implemented the loan waiver scheme for them. Farmers had never got the price for their crop that they are getting now,” Gandhi said.

“The world of 21st century is looking towards India with hope. This was the dream of Rajiv jee and this dream should first be fulfilled in Haryana,” Gandhi said referring to the state’s role in the security of borders and the green revolution.

She also lauded the performance of the Congress government in the state led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda saying, “Our state government led by the chief minister has attempted to change the face of the state.”

“The difference between the atmosphere in Haryana four five years back and now is clearly visible. You all must be remembering what was the plight here four or five years back. The economy was in shambles. There was a state of lawlessness,” she said.

(ST-1/03)

UPA accords top priority to farmers: Sonia

Seeking to reach out to the farmers ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday asserted that the UPA regime accorded top priority to their welfare and said the massive loan waiver scheme gave much needed relief to the farming community.

With the general elections just months away, the Congress president took the UPA’s flagship programme National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and various programmes being implemented in the fields of education, health and agriculture to the people.

“Implementation of NREGA scheme, loan waiver for farmers and various other schemes have received the accolades of the people. The Rs 70,000 crore loan waiver scheme for farmers gave much needed relief to the farming community,” she said addressing a well-attended rally in this Haryana town.

She said the UPA regime gave remunerative prices for peasantry for their produces and noted that the Government has implemented a number of welfare measures to improve the economic condition of labourers, dalits and people belonging to other backward classes.

The Congress chief said Indian economy continues to remain strong despite the recent global economic slowdown and attributed it to the policies followed by former Prime Ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.