Rajkot:
Sonia Gandhi is in Narendra Modi's Gujarat today. She kicked off the Congress' election campaign in the state with a rally in Rajkot's Race Course grounds. Before that she visited the Ramakrishna Ashram and garlanded a statue of Swami Vivekananda there.
Rajkot, in the Saurashtra region, is BJP territory, but the Congress hopes to exploit the fact that in this Patel stronghold BJP rebel Keshubhai Patel has begun his rival political party.
Here are the highlights of her speech:
- I thank you all for this warm welcome
- I salute this land that is associated with Mahatma Gandhi
- The Congress has tried to live up to his ideals, we have come a long way and still have miles to go
- It is unfortunate that our opponents only see darkness and cannot see the development
- The work Congress has done for the development of Gujarat no one else has done
- It is the habit of some people to take credit for the work done by other people, let them do it.
- Unfortunate that the waters of the Narmada from the Sardar Sarovar dam has not reached Saurashtra
- We demand that the state government look into the farmers problems, especially cases of suicide and send a report to the Centre so that they can be compensated.
- We are aware of the problems of the fishermen in this regions and the Cnetre will work on them too.
- You are deliberately not being told that the UPA government released 50% more funds than the NDA government from Gujarat.
- When Dalits demand their rights, they are answered with bullets here...
- FDI means that the farmers will be able to get their produce to consumers, sellers without middlemen
- If one Chief Minister doesn't want to implement FDi in his state, it is his choice. Why mislead the people and create such a big fuss over FDI?
- The world is going through an economic slowdown. We import 80% of our petroleum. What was $32 a barrel has gone up to over $115 a barrel.
- Why does the state government not reduce VAT? Gujarat has highest VAT.
- In Congress- ruled states, economically weaker sections get three extra LPG cylinders. Why doesn't Gujarat follow that model?
- The whole country is concerned about corruption today. We are too. The UPA brought in the Right to Information Act.
- People against whom there were corruption charges, the law has taken its course
- I want to know what the BJP is doing about corruption? Why is there such a difference between their walk and talk?
- BJP did not let the Lokpal Bill be passed in the Rajya Sabha; Gujarat doesn't have a Lokpal for eight years now.
- The BJP isn't against corruption, they are just against the Congress.
- The people who do not allow the Parliament to function, I ask you, are they against corruption or are they against the constitution and democracy? I leave the decision up to you.
- The Congress remains committed to development for all and building a new India, our opponents can continue to do whatever they want....