Saturday, October 15 2005 16:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gaya: In a veiled snub to LJP (Lok Janashakti Party) chief Ram Vilas Paswan for criticizing her party for its alliance with RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) in the coming Bihar assembly polls, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today (Oct 15, 2005) defended the electoral tie-up with like-minded parties saying it was done keeping in mind the larger interests of the state and the nation.

''Those raising an accusing finger at us on the issue of poll alliances need to be told that there is a great difference between them and the Congress. We are aware of our responsibilities and what we have done is in the interest of the state, the society and the nation,'' Gandhi said kicking off her party's campaign at an election rally here (Gaya).

She said the alliance has been effected with like-minded parties not for political expediency but for the benefit of the people, particularly the poor, the weak, women and the youth.

Referring to the fractured verdict of the electorate in the February assembly elections, she urged for a clear mandate for the Congress-RJD led Secular Democratic Front. ''Several difficulties arise when the voters give an unclear mandate. It opens the doors to horse trading, which is a bad thing for a state having a great tradition of healthy politics.''

The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) chairperson recalled the sacrifices made by Congress leaders both before and after independence to keep the country united and asserted nobody would be allowed to bring the nation and the society to harm.

Gandhi said she appreciated the problems of law and order, and shortage of power and water faced by the people of the state but these could not be solved in a day.

Gandhi said much needed to be done on the law and order front and assured the people that she would exert pressure on the SDF (Secular Democratic Front) Government if it came to power to work for the welfare of all sections of the society.

Attacking her detractors in the NDA (National Democratic Alliance), she said ''Those who divide the society have no moral right to sermonise us on unity.''

Referring to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, she said the UPA Government at the Centre had taken full care to ensure that its benefits reached the rural poor in ten Bihar districts where one member of each family would be given at least 100 days' employment in a year.

In her brief 10-minute speech, she castigated the erstwhile NDA Government for discriminating against Bihar with respect to central assistance.

''I feel sad that Bihar, which once taught the nation lessons in development and good governance is today steeped in backwardness. We will have to together find a way out,'' she said and expressed the hope that the electorate will give a clear mandate to the secular alliance to usher in a new era of development and prosperity.