It was Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, local MP, who welcomed Mrs Gandhi while Capt Amarinder Singh, talked about various problems of this backward belt. He promised to take measures for improving the quality of life, including provision of drinking water, here.

After Mrs Gandhi’s address, the Congress and CPI candidates from Balachaur, Nawanshahr, Shyam Chaurasi, Tanda, Nangal and Anandpur Sahib were introduced to the audience.

“We make promises which are fulfilled. I made it clear to the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee that we should make only those promises which we can fulfil as our party has principles. We have suffered in the past,” she said with a dig on the SAD-BJP alliance, alleging that they “forgot all promises they made to people of Punjab and instead of consolidating the gains of extermination of terrorism brought by previous Congress government in the state, they have brought it to the brink of bankruptcy.

“In the last five years of their rule, they have brought corruption everywhere. Crime is on the increase. People do not expect any justice. Irresponsible people occupy seats of governance and responsibility. The state has come to such a pass that the state does not have the money to pay even salaries to its employees. They must go. They have been tested for five years and cannot be trusted again.”

Mrs Gandhi said there was hardly any section of society which was happy with this government. “Do farmers get enough power supply? Are the youths getting their aspirations fulfilled ? Do citizens feel safe and secure ? If the answer to these questions is no, then who is responsible for all this? Such people must be taught a lesson. Compare Punjab with Congress-run states.

“If you trust us, give us a chance and we promise we will take Punjab back on the road of development and prosperity,” she said.

Varinder Singh adds from Jalandhar: The Congress reassured the people of the state that it will not allow itself to make hollow promises just for sake of votes.

Addressing a rally at the local PAP Grounds, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday claimed her party would have a “no-nonsense” attitude over issues like corruption and development. Even Congress MLAs and ministers would not be allowed to “sacrifice” the interests of people.

She received a thunderous applause when she started her speech by folding her hands and saying, “ Sat Sri Akal”. Praising Punjabis, she said they had made maximum sacrifices for the country during the freedom struggle.

Dubbing the SAD-BJP government in the state and NDA government at the Centre as “most corrupt”, she asserted that corruption would not be allowed to flourish in the Congress ruled states.

“There is no use of any government if it fails to fulfil aspirations of people. But the SAD-BJP government has shattered your hopes. How can you forgive them for their betrayal?” she questioned people.

Apart from holding the SAD-BJP combine responsible for “widespread” corruption, Mrs Gandhi said there was no law and order in the state and political interference in administrative affairs had “ruined” Punjab.

She was all praise for Punjabis and their ability to resurrect themselves, particularly, after the turmoil caused by Partition.

Mrs Gandhi said the priority of the Congress, in Punjab, would be the uplift of the farming class, streamlining of education and health sectors and bridging the gap between rural and urban areas by ensuring equal development.

Kulwinder Sandhu adds from Abohar: Ms Gandhi appealed to the people of Punjab not to trust SAD-BJP candidates in the Assembly elections while addressing massive public gathering here on Tuesday afternoon. She said the Punjab Government had betrayed the people of the state in the name of false promises of development.

Ms Gandhi further said that the Punjab Government has misused the public funds for filling their own pockets. The state exchequer is over-burdened with thousands of crores borrowed from the Centre or from the other agencies. The money released by the Finance Commission for development work was misused for other purposes.