Camp: Aonla, Uttar Pradesh

Date: 14th April, 2014

Time: 2 PM

Sonia Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh: Any ideology that spreads hatred is dangerous for the nation

Aonla: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi took on SP, BSP and BJP while addressing a party election rally at

Aonla in Uttar Pradesh as part of her ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha polls.

“I feel very sad to see that some parties are trying to damage the rich culture of unity and togetherness. They try to destroy our

tradition of unity in diversity and spread hatred among people for their narrow political gains. They try to divide the people in

terms of caste, religion and community. Their ultimate aim is to grab power and only people can teach them a lesson”, urged

Sonia Gandhi.

“Congress always tried to take every people, every section, together without any discrimination. We always gave special focus

for the welfare of the weak and downtrodden. We made several policies for their upliftment. This is the difference between the

Congress and its opponents. This is the differences between the Congress which delivers and our rivals which just talk big”

argued the Congress President.

Taking on the opposition, Sonia Gandhi said further, “You have witnessed the anti-people regime of SP and BSP. You also are

well aware about the divisive BJP politics. These parties spread hatred among the people in terms of caste and religion and make

people fight each other. They are a threat to secularism. We must understand that peace is necessary of development of the

country and welfare of the people. Any ideology that divides people and spreads hatred and disharmony is dangerous for the

nation and its people”.

“So you must think properly and take a wise decision before voting. The need of the hour is to bring in a secular government and

only the Congress party can provide the same for you. I am confident that the people will never support a divisive ideology and

will never elect people who are promoting such dangerous politics. I am also sure that you will support the ideology of the

Congress party and will give your valuable support to us” she appealed to the people.

While explaining various achievements of the Congress-led UPA government at the centre, the Congress leader continued,

“Today, there are lots of talks on corruption and our opponents, who themselves are most corrupt, level baseless allegations

against us (Congress) on it. But they forget that it was the Congress party which implemented RTI – the most powerful weapon

to fight graft. Every citizen can legally gather any information regarding government functioning. It is the Congress, which

enacted Right to Education to ensure free education for all children upto 14 years of age. To fight poverty and malnutrition, we

implemented Food Security scheme... For the benefits of our soldiers, we implemented one-ran-one-pension scheme. We also

framed stringent laws to curb atrocities against women. All these policies by the UPA government are aimed at empowering our

people and to make them self reliant”.

Sonia Gandhi urged the people to make a right choice and to elect Congress candidates in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Full text of the speech by Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Aonla, Uttar Pradesh

I use this opportunity join all of you to pay my respects to Babasaheb Dr. BR Ambedkar on his birth anniversary.

The people from this pious land have always maintained the rich tradition of living together with peace and harmony, loving and

helping each other. You had set a proud example to the entire country for communal harmony and brotherhood. But today, I

feel very sad to see that some parties are trying to damage this rich culture of unity and togetherness. They try to destroy our

tradition of unity in diversity and spread hatred among people for their narrow political gains. They try to divide the people in

terms of caste, religion and community. Their ultimate aim is to grab power and only people can teach them a lesson.

I feel sad that this region does not have any institute for training and higher education for girls. Similarly there are no sufficient

healthcare facilities for the poor here. The sugarcane farmers are struggling a lot as they are forced to carry their crops to miles

far as there are no proper transport facilities. But the state government is not bothered about such difficulties being faced by

the common people. You also must be aware that the state government has not yet taken up any measures to materialise the

long pending proposal for generating electricity from IFFCO plant here.

Today, there are lots of talks on corruption and our opponents, who themselves are most corrupt, level baseless allegations

against us (Congress) on it. But they forget that it was the Congress party which implemented RTI – the most powerful weapon

to fight graft. Every citizen can legally gather any information regarding government functioning. It is the Congress, which

enacted Right to Education to ensure free education for all children upto 14 years of age. To fight poverty and malnutrition, we

implemented Food Security scheme. We also enacted revised Land Acquisition Law to prevent all forceful land-grabbing and also

to ensure adequate compensation for the lands acquired from our poor farmers. We also street vendors bill to protect them

from all assaults. For the benefits of our soldiers, we implemented one-ran-one-pension scheme. We also framed stringent laws

to curb atrocities against women. All these policies by the UPA government are aimed at empowering our people and to make

them self reliant.

For the upliftment of minorities, we gave special attention in their education. The financial assistance to Maulana Azad

Education Trust was increased three times than earlier. We also established a Waqf Development Corporation to monitor the

Waqf properties and to use it more effectively for the welfare of minorities. For the upliftment of women, we launched a

scheme called ‘Roshni’. The UPA government also implemented most of the recommendations of the Sachhar committee report.

We have performed much better in the past ten years, than any other non-Congress govt ever. Congress always tried to take

every people, every section, together without any discrimination. We always gave special focus for the welfare of the weak and

downtrodden. We made several policies for their upliftment. This is the difference between the Congress and its opponents.

This is the differences between the Congress which delivers and our rivals which just talk big.

To enhance further our initiatives to help the people, our manifesto offers a right to health - to provide free medicine and

treatment for the poor – and a right to shelter for the poor. It also has proposals for social security and insurance measures for

the people working in unorganised sector. We also will ensure pension for old-aged and disabled.

You have witnessed the anti-people regime of SP and BSP. You also are well aware about the divisive BJP politics. These parties

spread hatred among the people in terms of caste and religion and make people fight each other. They are a threat to

secularism. We must understand that peace is necessary of development of the country and welfare of the people. Any ideology

that divides people and spreads hatred and disharmony is dangerous for the nation and its people.

So you must think properly and take a wise decision before voting. The need of the hour is to bring in a secular government and

only the Congress party can provide the same for you. I am confident that the people will never support a divisive ideology and

will never elect people who are promoting such dangerous politics. I am also sure that you will support the ideology of the

Congress party and will give your valuable support to us.

I, therefore, appeal to all of you, to ensure each and every single vote for the Congress party and elect our candidates with

handsome margins.