KOTA, Rajasthan, November 23: Congress vice-president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday blamed the “negative mindset” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its failure to acknowledge the utility of flagship schemes launched in Rajasthan. She said the Congress-led government in the State was silently serving the people without “beating the drums” for its achievements.
Addressing an election rally at Ummaid Singh Stadium in Kota, Ms. Gandhi took exception to some BJP leaders describing free medicines supplied at government hospitals as poison. “The speed of development in the State is there for everyone to observe, except the BJP. They can only see darkness.”
Ms. Gandhi said those unwilling to digest the immense benefits extended to the poor and downtrodden had a “poisonous heart” and wondered what had stopped the BJP from introducing such revolutionary schemes during its regime.
The Congress president praised the Ashok Gehlot government for launching a number of initiatives for the benefit of different sections of society in the fields such as social security, medical and health, education, housing and pensions. She affirmed that the state had achieved a distinct identity for itself under the Congress rule.
“Rajasthan, which did not get any investments at the time of Independence, is today an attractive destination for investors. The State has made rapid strides during the Congress rule,” said Ms. Gandhi.
She said while the self-help groups had made women self-sufficient, the increase in minimum support prices for different crops had benefited the farmers, while Dalits, tribals and minorities were being taken care of.
Calling upon the people to vote for Congress candidates in the Hadauti region, Ms. Gandhi said her party would fulfill all the promises made in its election manifesto released recently. She noted that Kota as the centre of the Hadauti region had emerged as an education hub.
Addressing another rally in Dungarpur, Ms. Gandhi said the UPA government at the Centre had enacted the Food Security Act to ensure that no one remains hungry. “Despite the lies of the BJP, we will continue to do our work,” she said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, AICC general secretaries C. P. Joshi and Gurudas Kamat and Congress leader Ambika Soni accompanied Ms. Gandhi during the two rallies.
