Kullu, May 4
Congress president Sonia Gandhi appealed to people to choose either the path of development or destruction. Addressing an election rally here today, she said, “You have to choose either the way shown by the Congress which is of peace, mutual botherhood and equal opportunities for poor and the weaker sections of the society or the path chosen by the BJP which of destruction and discrimination,” she said.

She criticised Modi for using a martyr’s name during his recent election rally in the state. She said he used the catchword of Kargil martyr Capt Vikram Batra “Yeh dil maange more” only for earning “Prime Minister’s chair”. This amounted to insulting martyrs, she charged.

Refuting development claims being made about Gujarat, Sonia said, “Gujarat has a debt of Rs 1.75 lakh crore, 40 per cent villages are without water and even a person earning Rs 11 per day is not considered poor.”

Referring to the previous BJP regime in the state, she said, “The state lagged in providing health and educational facilities and corruption was rampant.”

Highlighting the UPA government’s achievements, she said, “The UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, provided, among other things, right of free education to children up to 14 years, the RTI Act to expose corruption, a strong land acquisition Bill ensuring fair compensation, a strong Bill to stop crime against women, a food security Act and one rank-one pension to ex-servicemen.”

Hailing the work done by the state government, she said “The state government has taken steps to provide better remunerative prices to farmers and develop horticulture, education and health facilities.

“I believe that the Congress would carry on this work.”

Lashing out at Narendra Modi, she said, “From the manner of his talks it looks as if he has already become Prime Minister. I appeal to you to back the Congress in the election.”

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said, “The Nehru family and other Congress leaders played a significant role in the formation of the state.

“It would not have been possible without the Congress.”

Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said, “Immense development has taken place in the country during the past 10 years of the Congress rule.

“Despite economic crisis worldwide, the country saw increase in the GDP and per capita income.”

HPCC chief Sukhvinder Sukhu talked about sacrifices made by late Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for the country.