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Addressing a rally in Kondagaon in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the state recorded a rise in poverty levels due to misgovernance of the BJP government.
The UPA chairperson alleged that the BJP only makes promises while the Congress delivers.
Blaming the Raman Singh government for failing to curb Naxal menace, Gandhi sought to remind the party supporters that “Congress leaders have sacrificed their life in the fight against Naxal violence”.
Blaming the Raman Singh government for failing to curb Naxal menace, Gandhi sought to remind the party supporters that “Congress leaders have sacrificed their life in the fight against Naxal violence”.
Her remarks seeking to strike an emotional chord with locals comes at a time when Congress is making a desperate attempt to stage a comeback in Bastar region, where the BJP has captured the political space in last two elections.
Gandhi also said that the UPA government has continuously supported Chief Minister Raman Singh in fighting the challenge of Naxalism but rued that many areas in the Naxal-hit regions lack even appropriate roads.
Stressing that UPA's focus is on "development with pro-poor face", Gandhi said Congress wants development of the country but that should take place along with development of weaker sections" and rued that despite the schemes by UPA like MNREGA to check distress migration in search of livelihood, people of Chhattisgarh are compelled to go out of the state.
Accusing BJP of practising "divisive" politics, Gandhi said, "While the BJP wants to pit one brother against another, we want to take everybody along and connect people" and urged voters "not to fall in the trap of false promises by anyone" and ensure a Congress government in the state remembering the latter's history and its contribution to the country's development.
Ahead of the rally, security forces averted a possible landmine explosion on a vital road in Chhattisgarh as they diffused two IEDs weighing 50 kg in the Dantewada area of the state.
The IEDs were recovered at the same spot where Naxalites in 2010 had carried out the deadliest attack on security forces deployed for anti-Naxal operations as they killed 76 of them in a single ambush.
(PTI also contributed to this story)
(PTI also contributed to this story)
