NDA is main target of Sonia's poll call

'Dhanyavad' rally reminds farmers of loan waiver package, BJP's neglect of the farm sector.

"Nani yaad dila denge" (we'll teach them a lesson they will never forget) was Rajiv Gandhi's exhortation for his party to rally and attack the opposition in 1988-89. But as she thundered from the podium at the Ramlila Maidan here to a farmers' rally "" called the "Dhanyavad rally" in the context of the farm loan waiver package "" Sonia Gandhi gave her party a talking point she will be always associated with: "Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Daante (pot calling the kettle black)."

The reference was to the neglect of the farm sector by the BJP, which had the temerity to criticise the UPA government's farm policies, Gandhi, the Congress president and UPA chairperson, said as thousands of Congress-inclined farmers cheered lustily.

There was little doubt in anyone's mind that the rally was a build-up for elections. Both Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attacked the BJP for neglecting agriculture and for its handling of terrorism. Gandhi especially targeted the BJP' prime ministerial candidate LK Advani while Singh criticised the erstwhile NDA government for "neglecting" farmers.

A highlight of the rally was the prime minister's assurance that the farm loan waiver would be implemented by June this year, which is significant in the wake of the questions being asked about the operation of the scheme.

"I promise you there will be no laxity in implementing the decision and the whole package will be implemented by June," he said amid applause by a huge crowd that comprised a large number of farmers from nearby states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Both Gandhi and Singh did not make any reference to the controversial Indo-US nuclear deal. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was also present, too did not mention the issue and limited himself to the pro-farmer steps taken by the UPA government.

The Congress president voiced the party's concern on price rise but said international factors were behind this and efforts were on to tackle the problem.

Gandhi also said that no leniency would be shown towards those stoking regional and communal passions. This came against the background of charges against the Congress-led Maharashtra government that it delayed filing chargesheets against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for launching a campaign against "outsiders", especially Biharis.

"Unity and integrity are the basic conditions for the progress of the nation and to fight terrorism. There should be no leniency towards those who seek to discriminate on the basis of religion and region," said Gandhi.Asserting that the country belonged to all, she said it was the responsibility of all to ensure security of life and property of every citizen.

How much electoral impact Gandhi's campaign will have on farmers is not known but most of the participants in the rally were from UP, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.

Innumerable flags, banners and placards across the ground eulogised Sonia Gandhi, her son and MP Rahul Gandhi, the prime minister, and the UPA government, adding colour to the surroundings.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told the rally the state government would form plans to provide relief to the farmers who had taken loans from "adhtis" (commission agents). He said it would neither harm the farmers nor the commission agents.