New Delhi:
Sonia Gandhi is addressing a crucial meeting of about 3000 party leaders and workers as the ruling Congress preps for general elections due by May.
Here are the highlights: - We have taken a decision about Rahul Gandhi at the CWC meeting yesterday and that is final (Amid Congress roar for Rahul-as-PM, decision is final, says Sonia Gandhi)
- These elections will be a battle for India as it was conceived by our founding fathers
- Congress is ready and prepared for battle ahead
- This elections will see conflicting ideologies
- Battle for preservation of secular traditions
- We have demonstrated our resilience
- Inspite of economic growth, the fact is disparities are widespread
- Growth must be sustained. Catering for this, is a necessity
- On Corruption: I presented a 5-point action plan to combat corruption
- We will do our utmost to pass crucial bill when Parliament opens next month
- RTI Act is the single most important reason why citizens feel empowered to fight corruption
- Education is the way to eradicate discrimination
- New laws have been made against domestic violence, abuse
- State government, panchayat receive a lot of assistance from the centre. Never before have they received such assistance
(In Hindi)
- Has any other government done so much earlier? PM has been steady in achieving targets
- Congress has always tried to bring people together. That is the tradition of India
- We've never compromised with the ideal of secularism, this is our country's biggest identity and not a poll agenda. It is a matter of deep faith.
- Opposition's way is to divide communities, to spread disharmony. There's a face hidden behind the mask of empathy. (BJP wants to divide people: Sonia Gandhi at Congress session)
- I request people to be calm
- Our party established the foundations of democracy in this country
- Our party worked towards poverty alleviation
- We will not stop the efforts until we rid India of poverty
- Regardless of poll results, it is only our party that is active
- New generation wants to be heard. The government has raised aspirations, desire for change
- We will be united in speech and deed, and will emerge victorious in this struggle
- We've seen ups and downs, wins and losses, it's inevitable in politics
- Our quality is our courage and we will put up a fight