Shillaru: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of
pursuing a 'disastrous' economic policy, Congress president Sonia Gandhi alleged
that it was "selling" even profit-making public sector undertakings (PSUs) in
strategic sector in "blatant violation of all norms and regulations".
"These PSUs were set up with public money and they are not the property of any
political party," she said, addressing a massive Congress rally.
The BJP is engineering divisions in the society, Gandhi said, adding the life of the
poor, backward, tribals and other weaker sections have become "miserable" and no
efforts were being made for the uplift of women.
The BJP has lost the confidence of the people and a "wave for change" is sweeping in
all parts of the country, Gandhi claimed. "This is the reason for the Congress'
victory in elections in state after state," she said.
Even in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress could win massive support of the people because
of its policies laid down by great leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and
Rajiv Gandhi, she said, adding, "the Congress has never compromised on its
principles and will never do it.
"Power is not the ultimate aim of the Congress. It is only an instrument to serve
people and ensure their welfare. We will never use power for our selfish ends and
never betray the trust and confidence of the people," Gandhi added.
On the situation in Himachal, she alleged adequate relief had not been provided to
drought-hit farmers and announcements on introduction of crop insurance had not been
implemented.
If the country has registered surplus production of food grain and milk, it is the
result of farsighted policies of the successive Congress governments, Gandhi said.
She charged the BJP government in the state with "playing havoc with the
environment" and asked what could be expected of a government on which the Supreme
Court had to impose penalty for not preserving the environment. It failed to promote
even traditional industries like horticulture and tourism and had in fact ruined
these industries, she alleged.
PTI
