M A I N   N E W S

Sonia Gandhi storms Chautala’s citadel
Her mantra — root out lawlessness
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Narwana, January 29
Storming the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo’s citadel here this afternoon, the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, accused Mr Om Parkash Chautala’s government of “subverting democracy and letting loose a reign of terror and lawlessness in the state” and made a fervent call for its rout in the coming Assembly elections.

She asked the people of Haryana in general and those in Narwana in particular, not to bow under pressure or get intimidated by the INLD men while casting their votes in the February 3 elections.

Speaking on the second and final leg of her election tour of the state, Mrs Sonia Gandhi not only made scathing attacks on the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Government “for its repressive regime” but also cautioned the people against repeating the mistake they made five years ago by bringing to power an anti-people regime.

It was this regime, which took pride in describing itself as a pro-farmer political outfit but registered cases of secession and waging war against the nation against peaceful farmers who were protesting against its anti-people and anti-farmer policies.

“Do not be either under pressure or get intimidated while exercising your right to franchise. In fact those trying to intimidate you are themselves feeling scared. The ruling party knows that its days are over. Cast your votes freely and judiciously as each vote is a key to change. And this key works like an invisible magic.

“Election is the time when you can punish the anti-people, corrupt misadministration of the previous government. You must realise your power as no government can ever withstand the anguish and wrath of its people,” she said as she appealed to an impressive gathering to elect besides all other Congress leaders, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala from Narwana.

“Your new Congress government will work for welfare of all sections of society. There will be no discrimination or injustice done to any section,” she said. Unlike her speeches at various rallies yesterday, she attacked the INLD Government and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, vehemently on his home turf.

She said in last five years Haryana went through a “nightmare” as it was marked by criminalisation, corruption, extortion, misadministration as the progress and development initiated by the previous Congress governments was brought to a halt pushing Haryana back by several years.

“Congress was a party which keeps promises it makes to the people,” she said thanking people for giving nine of 10 Lok Sabha seats to the party in the last general elections. “Now the time has come for you all to teach the present state government a lesson. Everyone of you must vote on February 3.”

Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who arrived shortly before 1 p.m., was accompanied by Mr Moti Lal Vora and Ch Bhajan Lal. She was later presented a “gada” by the working President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Earlier, Ch Bhajan Lal in his address of welcome said there was a strong Congress wave sweeping the state. Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala described Mrs Sonia Gandhi as a messiah of weaker sections and women who always worked for the welfare of every section of society.

Soon after Mrs Sonia Gandhi arrived, all arrangements went haywire as the crowd broke all barricades, to have a closer glimpse of the Congress President.