In a massive show of strength at Ramlila Maidan in the capital, the Congress party today hit out at the Opposition and its detractors while rendering its full backing to the UPA government on its economic reforms agenda.
A combative Congress President Sonia Gandhi also sounded the poll bugle in a countdown to state elections and the general elections 2014. The ‘triumvirate’ of Congress President, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took centre stage at the rally and gave a glimpse of the big ticket programmes that the UPA will unleash before 2014 - FDI in retail, the Lok Pal bill, the Right to Food bill and the Land Acquisition bill- all aimed at helping the ‘aam aadmi.”
Lashing out at the Opposition for attacking the Congress and the UPA on the issue of ‘corruption’, Sonia Gandhi said, without once naming the BJP, “They (BJP) themselves are neckdeep in corruption." She went onto allege that that is why they had been repeatedly stalling Parliament as they did not want vital issues in which they themselves were embroiled to be discussed.
The ‘Maha rally’ which was initially planned to counter the Opposition attack on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, saw the Congress top leadership tackle a host of issues ranging from economic to political, to counter and set right the “negative image” being projected by detractors like the BJP and Indian Against Corruption.
Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, who was publicly acknowledged as the party’s “future leader”, today sounded unusually resolute and confident. Gandhi addressing the massive crowd numbering over a lakh, said, “The Opposition talks about corruption, it was the Congress gave the country the landmark RTI, the weapon in the hands of the people to fight corruption.” He launched a direct attack on the BJP accusing them of defeating the Lok Pal bill in parliament but declared that the Congress will come what may, ensure that the bill becomes a reality.
“We need to change the political system and open its doors to the youth and the ‘aam aadmi’”, said the junior Gandhi, who is slated to be taking over as the second in command of the party organization, any time now. He said it was only the Congress which is talking of changing the political system.
Hitting out the BJP for opposing policy initiatives like the FDI in retail without giving it much thought, Rahul Gandhi said, “It was the BJP which first talked of FDI. They were weak- hearted. But we are strong and have seen it through.”
In comparison to the robust Congress President and Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh sounded pale. Nevertheless he laid out the economic roadmap including the need for FDI in retail and the rationale for the UPA’s “unpopular decisions” like hiking of petroleum prices.
The PM explained that only when the country’s economy would be robust will there be enough finances to roll out welfare schemes and create jobs. He outlined the infrastructural growth targets of the UPA and reminded his audience of his 21st September televised address to the nation, where he had spoken of “the need to take difficult decisions.” Citing the controversy around FDI in retail as one of the “lies being peddled” by the Opposition, the PM said it will benefit both the ‘aam aadmi and the kisan”.
Highlighting how 80 per cent of petro products had to be imported, Singh said that burgeoning subsidy bill needed to be checked hence the need to raise prices. Nonetheless, kerosene prices had not been touched as it was “aam aadmi” cooking fuel.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi who definitely succeeded in reaching out to the masses with her rousing speech, exhorted Congress men and party workers to resolutely tackle the challenges confronting the party; “We will succeed in this fight,” she said.
Reminding the party that the Congress was the only political party that stood for secular values, Gandhi reiterated that the Congress was a party of the “aam aadmi.”
Alluding to the storm of allegations that had besieged both the party and the Congress top leaders of late, Gandhi accused the Opposition of wanting to weaken a democratically elected government which had been returned to power twice in 2004 and 2009.
With Winter session round the corner, the Congress President referred to the past few disrupted parliament sessions alleging that the Opposition’ only intention was to not allow public welfare measures to be passed by Parliament.
“Corruption is a cancer it’s a disease which hits the common man the most”, said Gandhi as she tried to alleviate the scam tainted image of the Congress party. Citing the RTI and the yet to be passed Lok Pal bill as evidences of the Congress led UPA’s intent to fight corruption, Gandhi launched to explain the need of economic reforms in the country.
“There is need to provide jobs annually to 80 lakh youth in the country, for which we need new investment and initiatives like FDI in retail”, said Gandhi. Despite the tight fiscal situation the government continued to give subsidies on petroleum products and urea, and had refrained from raising prices of wheat and rice, she said.
Apart from Congress party workers from neighbouring states of Haryana, Rajasthan ad even Madhya Pradesh, the audience included all party Cabinet ministers, AICC functionaries, MLAs, MPs, state Pradesh Congress leaders and even district Presidents. Emboldening them to get their act together in the run up to elections in several states and the general elections in another year and half Gandhi said, “Tackle the onslaught of the Opposition effectively as you take up the fight for the poor and the downtrodden.”