Sonia Gandhi pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 65th death anniversary

The Nation on Wednesday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, on his 65th death anniversary.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh paid floral tribute to Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat. Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and a host of other dignitaries also paid tribute to the apostle of peace at his memorial. A series of functions are being organized throughout the country to mark the occasion.

Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar. A lawyer by profession, Gandhi led the struggle for India''s independence from British rule by following the path of non-violence. Ironically, Gandhi was shot dead by a Hindu fanatic, Nathuram Godse, at a prayer meeting in Delhi on January 30, 1948, less than a year after India became independent.

Gandhi is venerated throughout India as the ''father of the nation''. His statues can be found across the country and nearly every town has at least one street named after him.

India observes Gandhi''s death anniversary as Martyrs'' Day in the memory of its freedom fighters.

Sonia Gandhi: Congress acted strongly to combat corruption

Congress President Sonia Gandhi while speaking at the Jaipur Chintan Shivir of the party on the last day accepted that corruption is the biggest modern Indian problem and said that Congress has come out as a strong party to combat corruption with an efficient five point agenda. This agenda, she said,  includes the introduction and passing of the ‘Lokpal Bill’, better allocation of natural resources, transparency in governance, and the Direct Cash Transfer Scheme (DBTS). The DBTS will eliminate corruption by middlemen.

"Let me reiterate that corruption at all levels is a deep-rooted malice and all sections of society are affected by it. As a party, we must lead struggle to combat its effect," added Sonia Gandhi. Referring the UPA government’s recent economic reform measures, Sonia Gandhi said that government was forced to take tough decisions due to financial crisis which were affecting the people. She was delighted that a lot of young leaders are participating in the meeting and this will help the party project young leadership. The Congress President also said that in last three days the Congress had tried to assess its own self.

Congress has tried to acknowledge its own strength so that it can come out with clear answers that why Congress is the best party. “Congress is exceptional as it has been following the footsteps of stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Bhimrao Ambedkar. Congress has produced leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajeev Gandhi who have had immense contribution towards the development of India” said Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi, who is also the UPA Chairperson also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, several decisions have been taken to benefit the common man and cited legislations like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Right to the Education Act and the proposed food security and land acquisition bills. "Nowadays every party makes claims of development. This is a fact that development in itself is an election issue and its entire credit goes to the Congress system of functioning," she said.

Congress president reiterated that that unlike any other party Congress came out as a party which ensured and will continue efforts in upholding a secular and peaceful nation. It will continuously fight poverty and social inequality.

Sonia Gandhi asks partymen to work with unity

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday told her leaders and cadres that unity should be their watchword as the party had floundered many an opportunity for want of discipline. Addressing the 'Chintan Shivir' in Jaipur, Sonia Gandhi cautioned party men of increased competition for Congress' political space among the people and noted that several inroads had been made in the party's traditional support bases.

Sonia Gandhi asked the party leaders to set aside personal ambitions and egos to work cohesively and ensure that the party puts up a better performance, particularly in states where it is out of power. "Why do we forget the simple truth that in the party's victory lies the victory of each and every one of us," she asked. Sonia Gandhi said there was a need to strike a fine balance when it comes to dealing with alliance partners while ensuring that the party's rejuvenation was not compromised.

Sonia Gandhi emphasises the urgent need for better connect with the new generation

Congress president Sonia Gandhi during her opening remarks at the Congress’ chintan shivir at Jaipur has said that the party’s revival would depend on mitigating the disillusionment of the growing middle classes as well as segments of the traditional vote bank.

In her inaugural address at the two-day AICC session, Sonia Gandhi emphasised the urgent need for reconnecting with the opinion-making section of the society. "India is increasingly peopled by a younger, more aspirational, more impatient and better educated generation. Across the length and breadth of our country, our people are expecting much more from their political parties. Aided by the tools of the modern world - television, social media, mobile phones and the internet - today's India is better informed and better equipped to communicate."

The Congress President added that the country's, "citizens are rightly fed up with the levels of corruption that they see in public life at high levels, but equally with the corruption they have to deal with in their daily lives. This is a phenomenon, a churning that we must understand and continue to respond to. We cannot allow our growing educated and middle-classes to be disillusioned and alienated from the political process."

The UPA government's policies also came for high praise from the Congress President who emphasized the importance of economic growth. "Economic growth over the past decade has been impressive. This has had a major impact on reducing poverty. But our fight against inequality and poverty is a continuing one. This is why it is important to sustain our poverty alleviation programmes."

Sonia Gandhi said the party will have to adequately respond to challenges posed by these movements. "We see various protest movements across the country, relating to land, forest, water and livelihood, tribal and gender issues. Our party must proactively take up these causes," she said.

The Congress President pointed out that the party had lost traction in states that it once controlled as a matter of serious concern. "This session is taking place at a time when we have been in government at the Centre for almost nine years. It is also taking place when we are not governing in a number of states and when we face serious challenges in states long considered our bastions."

"While we continue to be the nation's pre-eminent political party, we must admit that we now face increased competition and inroads have been made into our traditional support bases," said Sonia Gandhi.  The Party president sent a clear message of unity to partymen. "Is it not the case that we have squandered many opportunities that people are willing to give us simply because we have been unable to function as a disciplined and united team?" asked Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi – an efficient leader with progressive vision

“Who can forget the efforts of late Sh. Rajiv Gandhi to develop the Dahej region which is now considered to be one of the biggest industrial areas?” asked Sonia Gandhi in a Congress rally during her  recent Gujarat campaign.

When many of her opponents, including Narendra Modi, indulge in personal attack on their opponents, here is a leader who consistently focuses the issue of development and welfare of people. Sonia Gandhi not only has been merely saying, but also put in her sincere efforts to pressurize the Congress-led governments to frame pro-poor policies.  The landmark UPA policies like Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, Right to Education, Right to Information, Mid-day meal scheme are some of the examples for her effective intervention. Further the Congress president is keen to make policie3s Food Security bill and Women Reservation bill a reality. She has been consistently pushing for the need to ensure safety and security of the women in the country.

 Sonia Gandhi always said “Congress will work with sincerity, honesty, determination and commitment to fulfill the promises made in the Congress manifesto and will bring in radical development” and the time proved that she not only promises but delivers too.

She paid special attention to the affairs of the tribals. The right to forest Act is an example by which Adivasis could ensure the rights in the forest land and it was a landmark step towards upliftment of tribals.  During the recent campaign for the Gujarat polls also Sonia Gandhi took up this issue and had said “The people of Southern Gujarat are polite, honest and hardworking.  But still, why there is so much poverty in this adivasi dominated area? Why there are no improvements in the life and financial condition of adivasis in the state?  ”

 Further she took special interest in the farmers’ cause.  It was because of her consistent pressure that the Congress-led UPA Government had waived off loan worth crores  of the poor farmers.