Vasai (Maharashtra): After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks that independents were "spoilers", Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday appealed to the people not to vote for such candidates in the Lok Sabha elections.
"Do not vote here and there. Do not vote for independents," Sonia said while addressing an election rally in Vasai in Maharashtra.
The Prime Minister in Mumbai had earlier in April said that the independents contesting the elections were "spoilers".
"Terror forces are raising their head in our neighbourhood and the world is in the midst of a slowdown. Only a government with vision and determination can tackle such crisis. Only Congress can give such government," she said.
Thanking people for ending the "dark age" of BJP-Sena combine which wanted to end "our centuries-old tradition of brotherhood and secularism," Sonia said, "Some people do not like others living in harmony but we are not bothered about them."
Lauding the courage shown by people after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Sonia said, "The countrymen are united in fighting terror forces from within and outside which want to break the country."
It was the tough posturing and pressure of the Congress-led UPA government which forced Pakistan to admit that the 26/11 terrorists were from their country, she said.
Without naming the Raj Thackeray-led MNS and its campaign against north Indian migrants, Sonia said, "people come here (Maharashtra) from all corners of the country and live together."
"But some people don't like this. We are not bothered about such elements," she said.
Highlighting the initiatives of the UPA government like NREGA, pension scheme for unorganised labourers, Rs 65,000 farm loan waiver and petrol price cuts, the UPA Chairperson said, "every step of ours has been to boost brotherhood and unity in the country."
"Congress does not make hollow promises. Our work speaks for itself. In the last five years, we have fulfilled our promises and in the next five years, we will move ahead further," she said.