Chandigarh: Congress president Sonia Gandhi charged the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government with using power for "personal gains" saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government had failed on all fronts.

"The Centre has used power for personal gains. A common man cannot get relief under the BJP's rule," Sonia said addressing a rally of ex-servicemen from the North Zone in Chandigarh.

"The last three years of the government proved nothing more than false promises, hollow slogans, misrule and numerous scandals, including coffin and Tehelka," the Congress president said in her speech before a mammoth gathering of ex-servicemen drawn from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh.

"The work of the government is to make life of the people smooth and painless," she said adding that the BJP failed to execute a single work that could provide relief to the common man.

Sonia, who received a standing ovation from the gathering, said that people should draw inspiration from soldiers to attain success. "To reach at any height we must draw inspirations from brave soldiers, who sacrifice their lives at the borders," she said.

On the occasion, Sonia felicitated the family members of six valiant soldiers who were decorated with different gallantary awards, including Param Vir Chakra (PVC), for sacrificing their lives defending the country's frontier.

These included family members of Naib Subedar Nand Singh (Maha Vir Chakra-MVC), Capt Gyan Singh (Victoria cross), Hon Capt Joginder Singh (PVC), Hon Capt Karam Singh (PVC), Capt Gurcharan Singh (PVC) and Flying Officer Nirmal Singh Kahlon (PVC).

She also released a magazine brought out by ex-servicemen.

She also presented a token gift of blankets to Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Vidya Stokes for the people of a village in Sangla valley. Several truckloads of blankets were later sent for the people of the village, which was recently devastated by a major fire in the valley.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said that his government would strongly deal with the people playing with the dignity of the retired soldiers.

He demanded that pensions of soldiers should be substantially raised and one-rank one-pension norm should be implemented. "The Congress will raise the soldiers' pension issue in the Parliament and press for enactment of a law in this regard," he added.

PTI