Sonia Questions Akalis on Punjab's Poor


Kapurthala (Punjab), Jan 20 (IANS): Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday questioned the development claims of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government in Punjab, pointing out that over seven lakh families have been added to the state's existing list of 13 lakh poor households.

Addressing her first election rally here ahead of the Jan 30 elections to Punjab's 117 assembly seats, Gandhi asked the Akali-BJP government to explain what development it had carried out in the state during the past five years.

She said this government had proved to be most inefficient one as Punjab had seen total decline on all fronts during the last five years.

She said that the state government had failed to utilise the Rs.5,000 crore grant provided to it under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

She said the state government could spend just Rs.526 crore, while letting the remaining money unutilised.

Referring to the 'atta-daal scheme' of the state government, Gandhi said it was 100 percent financed by the central government and still the Akali-BJP government was trying to claim credit for it.

Appealing to the voters to support the Congress, Gandhi said in Hindi: "It is in your hands whether you want Punjab to progress under a Congress government or you let it decline further under Akali-BJP alliance."

Referring to Kapurthala's historic importance, Gandhi said it had a long history spanning over 1,100 years. More than that, she added, this place was divine as it was at Gurdwara Beri Sahib near here that Guru Nanak Dev prayed for 14 years and got enlightenment to lead and guide the entire humanity.

Earlier, Gandhi could not address her rally at Moga town as she was unable to reach there due to bad weather.

Gandhi's message was read out to the gathering at Moga, in which she said that the "worst is over and it is a matter of a few days more before the people of Punjab will have a friendly government led by the Congress, unlike the current one which has victimised people all over".

  

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Comment on this article

  • Sonia to doabies, ghaziabad

    Fri, Jan 20 2012

    May I ask president of congress the same question what the congress gave to India/Bharat/Hindostan in these years after independence,are there no poor in congress ruled states and how come if congress governments were so good then they lost to CP in Bengal,Kerala,TN,UP,and other states,why for five years the center remained silent on the subject and please dont bring religone in politics which your party keeps on harping against other parties.Practice before you preach.

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  • Situ, New Delhi

    Fri, Jan 20 2012

    Sonia questions Akali & BJP combine about poor in Punjab, but we want to question Sonia about poor in India.

    If any body asked me, my answer should be Sonia & UPA is blind, they have no eyes. How they can see & How they can mannage, so Indians open your eyes & support them who think about us. "Jai Bharat"

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ricky irom, Manipur

    Fri, Jan 20 2012

    Nice question .... but in manipur congress party are in deep satuaition ... must do something Sonia ji

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramandeep Kaur, Jalandhar

    Fri, Jan 20 2012

    I personally feel that government and religion are two seperate things..n i dont feel good when votes are asked by the name of religion..Dur to this reason..I m not in support of Akalis at all...Votes should be given for development n not for religion...I am in favour of Congress..I am sikh by heart..n proud of it...but I want an Intelligent Punjab n Intelligent India...which cant be obtained by the votes granted on the basis of religion..I am full on Sonia Gandhi..Rahul Gandhi and manmohan Singh's fan...corrupion is there ...but i think its both side affair...I hope substantial scheme will be made which will take us very far in terms of development

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