MAHARAJGANJ (Bihar), February 20: Congress campaigner Sonia Gandhi today cautioned the people against politics based on caste and religion being preached by some parties which she said had posed serious threat to the country.Addressing impressive election meetings at Saharsa, Madhubani and here during her fourth and final leg of electioneering in Bihar, Gandhi said, ``the politics of caste and religion has posed serious threat to our country.''
She urged the people to reject such forces by giving another chance to her party to make the country stronger and free from corruption and poverty. Without naming any party, she said, ``political parties are misguiding the people and the real problems facing the country are not properly addressed.'' She appealed to the people to vote for Congress for ensuring sustained development of the country and maintaining its unity and integrity.
Recalling the sacrifices made by Nehru-Gandhi family for the country, Gandhi said, ``whatever post-independence development hastaken place in the country is mainly due to untiring efforts of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.'' ``They strongly championed the cause of poor, Dalits, backwards and minorities,'' she said, adding, ``political instability today has tremendously hindered the progress of the country.''
She said if voted to power, the Congress would work towards ``total eradication of poverty and unemployment and uprooting corruption.'' Talking about the state of affairs in Bihar, Gandhi expressed surprise that ``a State so opulent in natural resources still lags behind....Abject poverty and unemployment still continue to grip Bihar.''
During her brief ten minute speech everywhere, Gandhi focussed on skyrocketting prices and difficulties faced by women and said it was her husband, Rajiv, who was instrumental in providing reservation to women in Panchayati Raj institutions. She said, ``the country cannot progress without giving due attention to promote women.''
Talking about unemployment, the Congressleader said, ``now when the country is on threshold of 21st century, the youth need to shoulder greater responsibilities but in absence of avenues for job there is simmering discontent among them....It has to be properly taken care of.''
Earlier, accompanied by her son, Rahul, she arrived half-an-hour before schedule at Saharsa airport where she was received by a galaxy of Bihar Pradesh Congress leaders.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
