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 wants overall development of the people

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while campaigning for the party during the recently held Gujarat polls had slammed Narendra Modi government for discriminating Saurashtra region and also accused it of making tall claims of development in Gujarat. The Congress President said that progress is nowhere to be seen and ruling BJP's promises are hollow and false.

For Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, development means welfare of the poor. If the poor and underprivileged sections of the society are not getting the benefits and they are not able to be a part of the path of progress, we can not claim development, she always believed.

Sonia Gandhi said “BJP has no interest in the poor and the common people but are only interested is development of its own and a select few people." She addressed first rally in a village near Mandvi town of Surat district of South Gujarat and her second rally was in Keshod town of Junagadh district in Saurashtra region. Sonia Gandhi asked "Why Saurashtra region was being ignored when it came to development".

In Mandvi Sonia Gandhi argued "The development which was promised in a big way is nowhere to be seen in this tribal land...Because what they promised were hollow and false." "This is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel who used to preach what they practiced. Now, there are people who give big advice but not follow them," said Sonia Gandhi taking an indirect dig at BJP leaders. She raised the issue of performance of Modi government in the last ten years.

"It is unfortunate that despite being in power for the last one decade, this BJP government has failed to bring Narmada water for irrigation to Saurashtra," Gandhi said touching an another important issue of water in this election. Sonia Gandhi said it is "shameful" that the BJP government is conjuring dreams that 110 dams of the region will be filled by Narmada water.

Raising the issue of farmers’ suicide in recent past, she said, "It is painful that farmers had to end lives because of shortage of fertiliser, water and electricity for agriculture". Sonia Gandhi alleged that BJP has done injustice to farmers of this region. Nearly 4.5 lakh farmers are facing shortage of electricity and nearly 57 areas in the region are in the dark zone but the state government is selling electricity to other states, said Sonia Gandhi.

Change of the Government is needed, not merely CM says Sonia Gandhi in Roorkee

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi kick started the campaign for the Congress in poll bound Uttarakhand. She said that the present state Government has been betraying the people in the name of development. Sonia Gandhi also said that the natural treasures of Uttarakhand are being looted and the only way to prevent it is changing the present government. Taking a swap ay BJP she pointed out that by merely changing the Chief Minister won’t help as what we require is a change in the Government.

“Uttarakhand is the land of brave people. The people from here had played a crucial role in the movement of freedom struggle. Even now a lot of people from Uttarakhand work as soldiers in the borders of our country to protect our nation” said Sonia Gandhi.

As far as Roorkee is concerned, the entire world takes the name of this place with respect and pride. It was from here the first steam engine took off in 1851. A lot of students who are the future of our country have been studying in the prestigious IIT here. Uttarakhand is blessed with its natural beauty and is a treasure to watch, added Sonia Gandhi.

This article is posted by pressbrief.in