Saturday, May 14 2005 16:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jind (Haryana): As the Communist Party Of India Marxist (CPM) evaluated the performance of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today (May 14, 2005) said that she was "satisfied" with the Government's work even though a coalition regime had "certain limitations".

"There is no doubt that sometimes a coalition Government has certain limitations," she said addressing a 'Dhanyavad (thanksgiving) rally' in Jind.

"But despite this, we are satisfied with the work of our Central Government," Gandhi said.

The CPM Politburo is holding a two-day meeting in New Delhi to evaluate the performance of the UPA Government after one year in power.

In a thinly veiled attack on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), she said, "Our opponents first said that our Government will never be formed, and when it did, they said it cannot run for long.

"But their desire has not been fulfilled and this month, the Government is completing one year in office," she said addressing her first rally in Haryana after the landslide victory of Congress in the Assembly polls earlier this year.

She said that she had wanted to come earlier to thank the people of Haryana for their "overwhelming support" for the party, but the rally had to be postponed because of the helicopter crash last month, which killed Ministers Om Prakash Jindal and Surendra Singh.

Lambasting the previous Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Government in the State, Gandhi said that an era of "mis-governance and fear" had ended with its ouster.

She said that the new Congress dispensation would work for development of all sections of society "without discrimination", especially the poor, weaker sections and women.

Sonia stressed on the need to build awareness about "dignity and respect" for women. "Men and women are like two wheels of a vehicle and there can be no progress unless they work together."

Criticising the INLD regime for meting out "injustice" to farmers during its rule, she said the new Government had "special responsibility" towards them.

"We have to work for development, but all problems cannot go away in one day. However, this does not mean that there should be any shortcomings in our efforts.

"I have told the new Government that there should be no difference between its promises and action," she said adding priority should be given to youth education, both for boys and girls, and generation of employment.

Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that his Government had taken a number of steps for the welfare of women, farmers and soldiers.

"We have reduced registration tax by two per cent on properties in the name of women. The Government has also decided to give Rs 5,000 for five years to every couple after the birth of their second girl child," he said.

There would be no tax on tractors, trolleys and fertilisers while ex-gratia for para-military forces had been made equivalent to that for defence forces - Rs 2.5 lakh.

Hooda also said that a new industrial policy would be announced next month (June) which will boost employment while an 'education city' would be set up in the State soon.

Others present at the rally included Union minister Kumari Selja and State Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala.