Camp: Balasore, Odisha

Date: 11-04-2014

Time: 5: 30

Sonia Gandhi in Odisha lashes out at BJD and BJP.

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched a blistering attack on ruling BJD govt. in Odisha by saying that it

is not at all bothered about development of the state or welfare of the people.

“The BJD government in Odisha also looted huge Central funds sent to the state under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and as a result

the people here are not able to avail the benefits of jobs. Odisha is the only state where about rupees 500 crores worth scam

under NREGA was reported, in just 6 districts,” said Sonia Gandhi while addressing a huge Congress rally at Balasore in Odisha on

Friday.

“To make sure that no one in our country lives in hunger, to fight malnutrition and to make food grains available for the poor at

subsidized rates the UPA government at the center implemented historic food security scheme but the state govt. here could

not implemented the same effectively in Odisha. There were reports of CAG that the state govt. had looted amount worth Rs.

2700 crores meant for BPL class. There were reports of huge irregularities by chit fund companies, in connivance with the state

govt. As a result number of people had to suffer financial loss. The atrocities against women are rampant here but the state

govt. is not at all concerned,” added the Congress President.

“This region is tribal dominated and the Congress has always been committed for their welfare and upliftment. Indira Gandhi

and Rajiv Gandhi had paid special attention to the issues of Adivasis. The Congress led UPA govt. too followed their footsteps

and took measures to uplift our tribals. We implemented Tribal Bill to ensure the rights of Adivasis in their forest lands and

crops. But the state govt. here did not implement this program too in the state. The past 15 years the Odisha govt. never took

pay to address the issues of its people and Adivasis as its main focus has been to indulge in corruption. The duty of a govt. is to

look after its people but the BJD govt. never did so,” further said Sonia Gandhi.

Taking on the opposition, the Congress leader continued, “The BJP and BJD have only one agenda – to oppose Congress. They

don’t have any vision or plans for people’s welfare. Their ultimate aim is to grab power. Congress always works for unite the

people and to respect our culture of unity and diversity.”

“BJP divides people and society and spread communal hatred across the country. Such an ideology is dangerous and harmful for

the country. It can never bring any success. This is an opportunity to elect a govt. which works for overall development of the

country and welfare of the people without any discrimination. Only Congress can form such a govt.” she argued.

“I therefore urge all of you to ensure every single vote for Congress so that our candidates can win with handsome margins and

we can form a pro-poor govt.” concluded Sonia Gandhi.

The full text of speech of Congress President Sonia Gandhi at Balasore, Odisha

I thank you for this warm welcome. Balasore was one of the main centers of our freedom struggle. Salt Satyagarh which had

taken place here has written in the golden pages of ourhistory. Women had taken the initiative for this movement; Rama Devi

Malti Devi, Kiran Bala Sen and Annapoorna Devi were the leaders who took this movement to success. Fakariya Senapati was the

protector of Oriya language. I salute this land which is a symbol of patriotism and sacrifice.

When Congress was in power it had initiated various measures for welfare of all people. I Odisha University, Rourkela factory,

Hirakund dam are some of the landmark steps. The launching center of Agni Ballistic Missile in Chandipur was Balasore. UPA

government had laid the foundation of Medical College, IT-park and CTET here and soon AIIMS will be establishing in this region.

You are famous in wheat production throughout the country. We respect the hard work of our farmers in developing our

country and that is why we had increased the MSP for their crops to maximum. It is unfortunate that despite huge natural

resources here in Odisha, the state faces acute poverty. Due to the anti-farmer policies of the ruling BJD government in the

state, about 4000 farmers committed suicide. As per policy of the Centre Odisha government was supposed to give bonus to the

farmers in the state but it did not implement the same. The water for irrigation from various dams built in Odisha is being

diverted to some big industries.

The BJD government in Odisha also looted huge Central funds sent to the state under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and as a result

the people here are not able to avail the benefits of jobs. Odisha is the only state where about rupees 500 crores worth scam

under NREGA was reported, in just 6 districts.

To make sure that no one in our country lives in hunger, to fight malnutrition and to make food grains available for the poor at

subsidized rates the UPA government at the center implemented historic food security scheme but the state govt. here could

not implemented the same effectively in Odisha. There were reports of CAG that the state govt. had looted amount worth Rs.

2700 crores meant for BPL class. There were reports of huge irregularities by chit fund companies, in connivance with the state

govt. As a result number of people had to suffer financial loss. The atrocities against women are rampant here but the state

govt. is not at all concerned.

This region is tribal dominated and the Congress has always been committed for their welfare and upliftment. Indira Gandhi and

Rajiv Gandhi had paid special attention to the issues of Adivasis. The Congress led UPA govt. too followed their footsteps and

took measures to uplift our tribals. We implemented Tribal Bill to ensure the rights of Adivasis in their forest lands and crops.

But the state govt. here did not implement this program too in the state. The past 15 years the Odisha govt. never took pay to

address the issues of its people and Adivasis as its main focus has been to indulge in corruption. The duty of a govt. is to look

after its people but the BJD govt. never did so.

For us this 2014 election is to bring in development in the lives of the poor and downtrodden. We had designed several

programs to provide technical training for our youngsters so that they can secure good jobs and make a bright career. Our

manifesto promises right to health and Right to Housing for the poor. We also intend to give Right to Pension for old aged and

disabled persons.

We always give special attention to empower our women. We will increase the number of women police stations to 2000.

The BJP and BJD have only one agenda – to oppose Congress. They don’t have any vision or plans for people’s welfare. Their

ultimate aim is to grab power. Congress always works for unite the people and to respect our culture of unity and diversity.

BJP divides people and society and spread communal hatred across the country. Such an ideology is dangerous and harmful for

the country. It can never bring any success. This is an opportunity to elect a govt. which works for overall development of the

country and welfare of the people without any discrimination. Only Congress can form such a govt.

I therefore urge all of you to ensure every single vote for Congress so that our candidates can win with handsome margins and

we can form a pro-poor govt.

Thank you!