Sonia assures justice to Vidarbha

Congress chief and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday promised to do "justice" to the backward region of Vidarbha saying it was not a mere election promise but a "firm commitment" from the party.

"The Congress is aware of the problems and sentiments of people of Vidarbha and our party in the government in Maharashtra has already given a package for carrying out developmental activities," Gandhi told an election meeting in this tribal belt in eastern Maharashtra.

"It is not a mere election promise, but a firm commitment from the Congress to do justice," she said.

Gandhi said in 1999, the Congress and the NCP fought election separately but came to power leaving behind the Shiv Sena-BJP combine.

"This time, the Congress-NCP-RPI alliance will dish out an excellent performance since we are fighting together and there would be no division of votes," she said.

"We have come out with joint election manifesto and are also campaigning together to ensure that the alliance retains power," she added.

Referring to the pending Gosikhurd irrigation project, she said the UPA government would soon initiate the process to complete it, bringing a green revolution in the area.

The international passengers' and cargo multi-model hub in Nagpur was being developed and the government had already set up a nodal agency ""the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, Gandhi told the meeting here at Paoni, which falls under the Lakhandur Assembly constituency where sitting Congress MLA Nanabhau Patole is contesting again.

Lashing out at saffron parties, Gandhi said "the people in the country have rejected their corrupt and incompetent government and have reposed faith in the Congress-led alliance."

"The BJP-led alliance indulged in large-scale corruption that led to their debacle," she said adding, "the people felt cheated by them as they (the BJP-led alliance) failed to fulfil their promises."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in his brief speech said as part of the relief measures for farmers, the Democratic Front government has decided to waive the interest on crop loans and the electricity bills of farmers in the state.

Ridiculing the opposition for spreading rumours that the Democratic Front government was misleading the farmers over the waiver issue, Shinde displayed a MSEB bill with zero charges.

Congress general secretary Margaret Alva and MPCC chief Prabha Rau were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, reiterating her party's stand to create separate Vidarbha state if it comes to power in Maharashtra Assembly polls, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mmayawati yesterday said the party would speedily develop the Vidarbha rajya.

Addressing an election meeting in Nasik for BSP candidates contesting from 14 constituencies in the Nasik district, Mayawati said her party would also develop remaining parts of Maharashtra.