Suratgarh (Rajasthan), June 20;Slamming opposition parties for creating hurdles in passing of the Food Security bill, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused them of creating instability in the country to grab power at any cost.
“I would like to tell you that a few political parties are conspiring to create instability. These kind of political forces have nothing to do with progress….they are only eyeing the chair and they want it at any cost.There is a need to be vigilant against such powers”, she said addressing a rally in Suratgarh
Veiled attack on BJP
In a veiled attack on the BJP, she said they tried to create hurdles in the passing of the Food Security bill.
“We (UPA) want that no one sleeps hungry. For that we wanted to bring a bill on food security but our ‘virodhi’ (rival) created hurdles. Had the opposition allowed the bill in Parliament, we would have passed the Food Security Act long ago.
“But this is very sad that these Opposition parties are always opposing our public interest plans and programmes. It is now their habit to oppose every work that Congress wants to initiate and do”, she charged.
Accusing some political parties of conspiring to create instability, she said whenever there is instability; it affects progress and development and indirectly aggravates the woes of the poor.
“Despite all this, we all want to move on the path of progress with great enthusiasm and vigour and we will give a befitting reply to these forces which create hurdles in progress and development of the nation”, she said in her 10-minute address.
She was speaking after laying the foundation stone of two super critical power units of 660 MW each at Suratgarh Power Station.
Maintaining that Congress was committed to the welfare and happiness of the poor, weaker sections, women and farmers, Ms. Gandhi said, “Our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is working in this direction…and has taken historical decisions”.
Hails Rajasthan’s power generation
Hailing Mr. Gehlot government’s success in power generation which went up to 12000 MW, she said the UPA government has always given a top priority to energy and thousands of crores was being spent on every 5-year plan.
“There would no dearth of funds in this sector. Our first aim is that there should be uninterrupted power supply to every house, and the participation of private sector will be encouraged to take power connection to far-flung areas of the country”, she said.
The priority of all Congress ruled states is power sector and Rajasthan has done it “solidly”, Ms. Gandhi said.
To provide cheaper power to BPL families in urban areas, the Rajasthan government had announced distribution of one CFL bulb to every BPL family and on this a sum of Rs.1 crore would be spent, she said.
Now power would be taken to places where the population is less than 100 families.
Additional power generated
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said additional power of 1320 MW will be generated in the next three yeas due to two new super critical power units of 660 MW.
The state would be number one in power generation, Mr. Gehlot said, adding wind and solar energy in Jaisalmer district would also boost the state’s economy and growth.
Another power unit at Suratgarh and Chabra were in the offing, he said.
The state would also witness a maximum investment of Rs.40,000 crore in the refinery being set up at Barmer.
Rajasthan Energy Minister Jitendra Singh noted that when the Congress government came to power in 2008, the power generation was just 1500 MW, and by next Diwali, every house in the state would have a power connection.
“The state government had not raised a paise on agricultural connection in the last four-and-half years, and so far the Gehlot government had given subsidy of Rs.5700 cr on agricultural connections,” Mr. Singh said.
AICC General Secretary, C.P. Joshi, PCC president Chandrabhan, local MP Bharatram Meghwal and other leaders were present on the occasion.
