PTI
New Delhi, Mar 24: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday released the party’s election manifesto here saying security, respect and prosperity of all citizens will be the party’s endeavour.
The party is projecting Manmohan Singh as the next prime minister of the country saying that there could be many candidates for the post but no one matched up to him.
"There can be many candidates for the post of prime minister but nobody stands in front of Manmohan Singh. He has both experience and competence," Sonia Gandhi said while releasing the party's manifesto here.
She said that the people would vote for the Congress keeping in mind the achievements of the UPA government in the last five years.
The Congress party said it would introduce measures to ensure that economic growth is maintained and protect farmers from the impact of a global slowdown.
It would extend interest relief to farmers and build on the national job guarantee scheme, both seen as potential vote winners in the general election to be held next month.
"When I look at the opportunities, I am convinced that this country can move forward on a road to faster, more equitable growth," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at the launch of the manifesto.
At the release of the party’s manifesto, the Prime Minister slammed BJP candidate Varun Gandhi for his communal remarks and said his comments represented the BJP’s mindset. He said the BJP was responsible for dividing the country on communal lines.
Manmohan Singh also accused the Left of being regressive. He said Left parties and BJP have "negative mindset" which cannot take the nation forward.
NDA and Third Front don't have the capacity to meet the challenges facing the nation, the PM said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, however, remained mum on the issue, and refused to comment on the possibility of a post-poll alliance with the Left.
Referring to the Nov 26 Mumbai attacks, Manmohan Singh said, “I can't say we are fully satisfied with actions taken by Pakistan in connection with Mumbai attacks but no purpose will be served by creating war hysteria.”
“Pakistan must take next consequential steps to ensure perpetrators of Mumbai attacks are brought to justice,” he said.