Bhopal,20 June:Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh, Sonia said state government should take strict action against black marketeers and hoarders and further reiterated that several state government are not reducing taxes and putting the blame on the Centre.
Sonia also said that the UPA government has taken many steps to ensure that benefit of development reaches all sections of the society.She also offered prayers and performed rituals at the venerated Mahakaleshwar temple in temple town of Ujjain.
"The Congress always struggled for development while they have been playing politics in the name of religion. Politics is a medium of development and not destruction," she said while addressing a mammoth kisan rally in temple town of Malwa in Ujjain on Friday.
Assailing the saffron party for vitiating social atmosphere in the state, Gandhi said atrocities on weaker sections have increased while social amity has deteriorated.
The UPA Chairperson said there is too much corruption in implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes.
She also took a dig at BJP slogans during the last assembly elections promising power, roads and employment for the people.
"I feel pained to know all these things. I am concerned about crores of people who do not get employment throughout the year. The UPA government has introduced a rural employment guarantee scheme under which jobs for at least 100 days in a year is assured," she said.
Exhorting people to support the Congress, Gandhi said the UPA government at the Centre introduced the Right to Information Act so that people can seek information from any public office on any issue across the country.
"We have also waived-off Rs 71,000 crore of loans for the benefit four crore farmers in the country. It is our responsibility to realise the pain and agony of farmers," said Gandhi.
Among those present during the rally were senior Congress leaders Digvijay Singh, Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kantilal Bhuria, Jamuna Devi, PCC chief Suresh Pachouri, Subhash Yadav, V Narayan Sami and Jitin Prasad.
Gandhi said the Congress is committed to empower women, adding the Women’s Reservation Bill has already been introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
On the issue of hike in prices of petroleum products and soaring inflation, she said the Centre was compelled to raise the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG due to increase in international crude prices.
The BJP-led NDA too had raised prices of petroleum products several times during its rule at the Centre, said Gandhi.On rising inflation front, she urged state governments to act firmly against black marketers and profiteers.
Madhya Pradesh received Rs 6,000 crore as central assistance during 2007-08 compared to less than Rs 3,000 crore during the entire NDA regime, said Gandhi.
The mood among those attending the rally seemed upbeat with people shouting slogans like "Sonia Gandhi zindabad" and "Congress Party zindabad."
Gandhi said people in Madhya Pradesh are ready for a change in state administration. She asked Congress workers to reach people at the grassroot level and resolve their problems.
It was her maiden rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Malwa region which accounts for 72 assembly seats of the total 230 in the state. Courtsey: DD NEWS