Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi attend Arun Nehru’s cremation

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi attended Arun Nehru’s cremation at New delhi’s Lodhi road crematorium. Priyanka’s son lit the pyre.

Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi -- the energetic Congress leaders

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been leading her party very effectively and under her guidance Congress-led UPA government at the centre implemented various welfare policies for the benefit of the poor in the country. Her daughter and Star Congress campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also another energetic leader who strike chords with the people very easily.

Sonia Gandhi in Karnataka slams BJP’s misrule; calls for change in the state

Chikmagalure: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, while addressing a mammoth election rally at Chikmagalure in Karnataka as part of her campaign for the upcoming assembly polls in the state on Saturday, launched a blistering attack on the ruling BJP government for cheating the people and ignoring the development in the state.

Sonia Gandhi started her address by striking an emotional chord with the people of Chikmagalure recalling how they had extended their support to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1978. “We cannot forget and we will not forget that the people of Chikmagalur, 35 years ago, lent a helping hand to my mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, when she needed it the most.  And I am here today to offer to you the helping hand of the Congress party now, because it is now you need it most” said Sonia Gandhi and the audience greeted it with huge applauds.

Slamming the BJP, the Congress President stressed that the present government in Karnataka betrayed the people's mandate and claimed that the people are looking for a change. “People want change and this feeling was seen in the recent local elections.. The need for change is now and you know better, why we need a change? You live here and you are suffering because of the bad governance of the BJP” said Sonia Gandhi in her first campaign rally in Karnataka, which goes to assembly polls on May 5.

"The BJP has completely betrayed the mandate of the people of Karnataka", she argued and continued “Immoral behaviour of the persons in the positions of power has crossed all limits. The law and order has collapsed. The mining mafia has destroyed the environment and has ransacked huge mineral resources, which are your property. Secular values of Karnataka society, in this region in particular, have been gravely damaged by fanatical elements only for their narrow and selfish political ends”.

Sonia Gandhi added that there was a time when industries competed with one another to invest in Karnataka but the situation now is opposite. She alleged that the industries are leaving Karnataka because of corruption, government interference and poor infrastructure. Noting that Karnataka has had a glorious past and brighter future awaiting, she said this is possible only if there is political stability. 

Taking a dig at BJP for frequently changing the Chief Ministers in the recent past, she said “For a brighter future for Karnataka, one should realise that stability is essential. We cannot afford governments, which keep on changing Chief Ministers every now and then.. A stable Government is the need of the hour in Karnataka”. 

“We (Congress party) reject any communal ideology. We reject any ideology or institution that spreads hatred and disunity” underlined the UPA Chairperson.

“Come out in large numbers on 5^th of May. Vote for Congress; caste your votes for stability; caste your votes for a future of pride of all the people of Karnataka and Chikmagalur” said Sonia Gandhi while concluding her address.

Sonia Gandhi and 15 successful years as Congress President

On 14 March, when Sonia Gandhi completes 15 uninterrupted years - a unique distinction - as the Congress president, she has a lot of things in her credit, from strengthening her party to giving a visionary guidance to the Congress-led coalition government at the Centre.   She took over as Congress President in 1998 at a time a demoralised and fragmented Congress party was going through a turbulent phase and ruling just four states of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Mizoram and Nagaland. And after taking over Sonia Gandhi restored the party's central place in the country's polity in six years.

After three continuous in 1996, 1998 and 1999, Sonia Gandhi played a pivotal role in bringing the Congress party back to power in 2004 and since then the Congress has successfully led a coalition government at the Centre and is in power in 13 states.

It was because of her persistent intervention and guidance the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre framed some land mark polices like Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the Right to Education and the Right to Information. Women empowerment has always been her focus and she was instrumental for many polices by the Centre in that direction. The mid-day meal scheme in government schools is yet another example for her pro-poor approach. Now the government is ready with Food Security Bill, another dream project of Sonia Gandhi.  She always argued for inclusive growth and insisted for special care to youth, women, minorities, tribals and other most backward classes. There is her mark in the latest Congress-led Centre government programme, the Direct cash transfer (DBT) in which the money meant for the poor will directly reach the beneficiaries bank accounts through Aadhar card.

It is a fact that the Congress was in disarray when Sonia Gandhi took over. But after that she has been able to establish unity and authority in the party and now Congress has regained its political domination across the country.

Sonia Gandhi has also been credited for taking the Congress to the left-of-the-centre position and for crafting good and effective coalitions. Her legacy is bringing Congress back to secular position with focus on welfare and distribution that helped the party to regain its dominance in the national polity in 2004.

It is a known fact that Sonia Gandhi, after the assassination of her husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, had turned down repeated requests by Congress workers, leaders and followers to  join the party, till 1997. And finally, on March 14, 1998, she was elected as the Congress President. The biggest challenge for her then was to rejuvenate the party that had crumbled and split over the years and it is history now that she could accomplish the task effectively and efficiently.

Though Congress faced electoral debacle initially, the party under the energetic leadership of Sonia Gandhi could come back with a bang in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress emerged as the single largest party and along with Left, and other like-minded parties formed the UPA government. Unperturbed by the foreign origin issue raked by her opponents, Sonia Gandhi had succeeded in demolishing BJP led NDA's "India Shining" campaigns with the "aam aadmi" slogan of the Congress.

The important milestone in her political career is her refusing the PM post. She stunned the entire world by declining to take up the top post. "Power in itself has never attracted me, nor has position been my goal," she had then said. The renunciation of power -- a move many described as one of her biggest political masterstrokes-- solidified Sonia Gandhi's position. Under her leadership, the UPA retained power in 2009 general elections with the Congress winning 206 seats, the highest by any party since 1991.

For Sonia Gandhi, the biggest challenge now, is to ensure Congress' victory in the coming assembly and Lok Sabha elections, which comes at a time when the party has been at the receiving end of several controversies. But, Congress is hopeful that with her visionary leadership and under newly appointed young Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the party will retain the power in the next general elections also.

Sonia Gandhi inaugurates South Asian Autism Network (SAAN) conference

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated a conference of the South Asia Autism Network in New Delhi on Monday. Representatives from India, Bangladesh, Thailand and WHO, SEARO will participate in the daylong conference.

“It is simply not acceptable that we perceive people with autism as people who don’t have any understanding. We need to change. We must make the world a comfortable place for those with autism. We need to learn to respect those who may perceive and experience the world differently from us. We need to empathize with them” said Sonia Gandhi. “We need to focus on not what is different about them, unfamiliar movement, unexpected expressions, unusual silences, uncommon imagination but on the vastness of what we have in the common as equal members of one humanity” she added.

The Congress President continued “Human society has expanded the frontiers of knowledge and seen the eradication of many debilitating diseases, yet in the case of autism, despite its widespread prevalence, an understanding for its causes remains elusive”.

“ Professor Saima Wajid Hussain has just given us some figures that tell us that autism specter disorder is on the increase. We probably have over 8 million individuals with autism spectrum condition” said SoniaGandhi and added “Our ministers have just spoken to us about many initiatives and the programmes which have been started here in India, including some changes in some policies. However, I feel that the fulmination of public policies in our countries is not kept pace and not enough attention has been given to disability sector.  In the absence of adequate institutional support mechanism, the differently abled remained deprived of their rights”.

During the conference, representatives from India and Bangladesh will present the official SAAN charter for adoption by all network member States. The charter notes the commitment to the following goals: To raise public and professional awareness of ASD; to provide resources for parents and professionals; to collect public health data to understand the burden of ASD; to conduct professional training in the areas of evidence based services to meet the life cycle needs of persons with ASD. It will also encourage in ASD, promote inter-country sharing of data resources and expertise and to explore funding mechanisms to achieve the above goals and objectives.

The WHO shows an escalation in the disease burden for autism from 10 percent to 14 percent over the period 1990 to 2011. It is expected to rise to 15 percent by 2020. After the adoption of Dhaka Declaration on 25 July 2011, the South Asian Autism Network (SAAN) was born to combat the devastating autism public health crises. The intention is to identify common challenges each country is facing and form a partnership to develop solutions in a collaborating and coordinated fashion.

The intensions include establishing a regional autism awareness campaign in South East Asia, creating joint programmes for information-sharing and professional training, and defining national and regional strategies to advance autism public health research and policy development.

Sonia Gandhi warns of challenges ahead

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while kicking off Congress’ Chintan Shivir which began in Jaipur sent a warning that there should not be any compromise on maintaining the unity among Congress workers. "Inroads have been made into our traditional support base (and) there are some states where we have been out of office for too long," said Sonia Gandhi.

This meeting will "enable us to introspect, look ahead, to look at our strengths and weaknesses", said the Congress President.

Sonia Gandhi said the meeting was taking place when Congress faces "serious challenges in states long considered" party strong holds.She conceded that some of the state welfare programmes espoused by the party had failed to reap the expected benefits. "The government under Manmohan Singh's leaderhip has enacted truly revolutionary programmes and historic legislations from our manifesto, but in some states we have not been able to translate this into political support," said Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi urged the party workers to discuss all the issues pertaining to the party freely and frankly and said that this session would decide the future of the party. The Congress President also talked about India’s foreign policy, atrocities and against women, the issues related to the new generation and the organizational matters.

Sonia Gandhi at Chintan Shivir stresses for the need to fight corruption

Congress President Sonia Gandhi while addressing her partymen on the concluding day of the Congress’ chintan shivir in Jaipur said corruption is a "deep rooted maliceand so the party must lead the struggle to counter its effect. "Let me reiterate corruption at all levels is a deep rooted malice and all sections of society are effected by it. As a party we must lead struggle to combat its effect,"  Sonia Gandhi.

The 'Chintan Shivir', the three-day Congress conclave began on Jan 18 and concluded on Sunday, Jan 20.  The Congress President also had said that corruption was the main concern of the nation when the party held its session at Burari in July 2011. Sonia Gandhi said that a five-point agenda to deal with corruption was given and the party has moved on with it.

The key among the steps taken was introducing Lokpal bill in the parliament and introducing more transparency in process of allocating natural resources, said Sonia Gandhi. "We have introduced path breaking legislation for grievance redressal, whistle blowers, and historic 'apka paisa apke hath' (your money in your hands, the direct cash transfer scheme) initiative," said the Congress President.

Congress has been under severe attack from opposition and civil society groups for several major corruption cases that surfaced during the tenure of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the party.

Sonia Gandhi at Congress’ chintan shivir: Introspect why people should vote for us

Congress President Sonia Gandhi while speaking on the final day of the Jaipur AICC session said that people were getting disillusioned with the political process and urged party workers to introspect why people should vote for them.

"We must accept that people are getting disillusioned with the political process. We must introspect why they should vote for the party," Sonia Gandhi said, adding "Our answers should be clear and we have to explain it to people with simplicity and confidence."

Sonia Gandhi also urged party workers to oppose those who levelled false allegations on politicians, parties and institutions. The Congress president  also suggested a rethink on electoral reforms, especially political funding, saying she would set up a group in the party to examine the issue and suggest an action plan.

Congress president also said there was "no reason" the party should not get public mandate again if it works in the right way. "There is only 15 months left for the (2014) elections. I am confident, if we work in the right way and are united, there is no reason we should not get public mandate again," Sonia Gandhi said addressing the last day of Congress' 'Chintan Shivir'.

She said discipline and unity was needed, and also added that party members should publicise the good work done by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government. "Several states are also going to polls. I think our biggest challenge is to be disciplined and united and present ourselves to people. The victory of the party is the victory of all of us," said Sonia Gandhi.

"We must tell the people of our country about our achievements. The government gives information from its side, but the party organisation should also publicise it," added the Congress President.

Sonia Gandhi: Discrimination against the girl child, atrocities against women are a blot on our collective conscience

Congress President Sonia Gandhi while speaking at the opening session of Congress’ chintan shivir at Jaipur sent out a strong message to party leaders asking them to understand the new emerging India, which is younger and less tolerant of the corruption it faces daily.

In the wake of the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old woman aboard a moving bus in the capital and the continuing cases of violence against women, the UPA chairperson said, “With the greatest anguish I have to say that discrimination against the girl child continues.”

“Discrimination against the girl child, atrocities against women are a blot on our collective conscience. Gender issues are fundamental; the entire party must bring this to the heart of political activity and change mindsets”.

“Ostentatious display of wealth leads to the question where is this wealth coming from,” she said.

Sonia Gandhi also exhorted Congress leaders to come together setting aside personal ambitions and egos, so that the party thrives. “Our people are fed up with the corruption they face. We must understand this. Today’s India is better informed and equipped. The technology has led them to ask more of their leaders,” further said the Congress President. 

Sonia Gandhi wants welfare and development among all sections

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi always believed that development means welfare of the poor. If the poor and underprivileged sections of the society are not getting the benefits and they are not able to be a part of the path of progress, we cannot claim development, she always believed.

Sonia Gandhi also wanted the welfare of the youth also. That is why she had slammed the Modi govt. in Gujarat during her recent campaign for Congress. “Lots of youth are jobless in the state. The health and education facilities are insufficient here.  My sisters in this state have been facing atrocities because of the worsening law and order situation in the state. Why all these happening here? If the government had given attention to your problems, you would not have faced so many problems”.  The Congress President urged the people to support Congress and to bring back the state of Gujarat to the path of development.

Sonia Gandhi during her campaign had targeted the Narendra Modi-led BJP government in the state and said that all sections of the society are suffering under the anti-people BJP regime. “For inclusive growth of urban pockets, we have implemented JNNURM. You will be amazed to know that 16 per cent of total grant has been spent only on one constituency” said Sonia Gandhi. “I do not want to take the name of this Assembly constituency. I think you all know,” she added, referring to road, BRTS and lake development that Maninagar, represented by Modi since 2002, has witnessed.

Sonia Gandhi lists out BJP government’s failure in Gujarat

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi during her recent campaigns for Congress in Gujarat had attacked the Narendra Modi led BJP government for making false claims on development. The Congress President alleged that BJP's promises are hollow and false.

For Sonia Gandhi, development means welfare of the poor. If the poor and underprivileged sections of the society are not getting the benefits and they are not able to be a part of the path of progress, we cannot claim development, she always believed.

Raking up the issue of malnutrition, Sonia Gandhi said that 4o percent children are suffering from malnutrition and ten lakh youths are jobless while government employees are being exploited. The Congress President said "it is unfortunate that false promises are made for getting mileage in elections".

"UPA government has been allocating 1000s of crores of rupees to various states, including Gujarat, without any bias. But nobody knows how this money is spent (in Gujarat)," said Sonia Gandhi. "Why is poverty still looming in the tribal population of the state? Why there is no change in the lives, position and financial condition of tribal," Sonia Gandhi asked. "There is no water in hilly villages of tribal areas, the BJP had shown you the dream of building 2.25 lakh lakes and dams... Where are they ?? Where is employment for the tribal people," she asked. The AICC president also said that Congress was responsible for the development of South Gujarat. The roads which you are seeing here are made under the Prime Minister rural road scheme. Sonia said that Congress stood with the people of Gujarat at the time of drought, earthquake and cyclones.

Sonia Gandhi alleged because of the policies of BJP government, the hardships of the common man have increased. "If the government attended to your problems, you would not have faced so many problems", said the Congress President.

The Congress leader also said the UPA government had waived loans to the debt-ridden farmers but their condition in Gujarat has not changed because of the "anti-people" policies pursued by the BJP government. Sonia Gandhi alleged that there are so many unemployed youths, malnourished children because of lack of education and health in the state.

Focussing the large number of women and girls, Sonia Gandhi said "women in the state, who works shoulder to shoulder, are also being torched, exploited and being harassed in Gujarat where situation of law and order is deteriorating."

Emphasising on effecting radical changes in Gujarat Sonia Gandhi said, "It is necessary to bring revolutionary change in Gujarat politics and only Congress can do that". The Congress President appealed to the people to fight against the state government's injustice and elect Congress.

Sonia Gandhi assures to bring affective Lokpal Bill

Congress (I) President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has assured to bring affective Lokpal Bill in the Parliament. Sonia Gandhi said she hoped the opposition will support the government in passing the legislation. “Together with an effective Lokpal bill, the government is working on a variety of legislations which will systematically fight corruption. I hope the opposition will support us in passing these important measures,” she said while addressing Indian Youth Congress conclave on November 29, 2011 in New Delhi. "Sonia Gandhi said the government was committed to root out corruption. In the last few months, there has been much talk about corruption. Corruption is indeed a plague of public life and we are committed to eradicate it. Our actions have shown this. The Right to Information (RTI), which our government brought in, places in hands of the people a powerful weapon against corruption," said Sonia Gandhi.

 

This article is posted by pressbrief.in