LIVE TV
Odisha
Baripada/Balasore: Hitting out at both BJP and BJD, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today accused the saffron party of trying to destroy social harmony by creating a communal divide and the ruling party in Odisha of misrule, rampant corruption and loot of central funds.
"BJP seeks to destroy unity and harmony in the country by creating a communal divide. It believes in violence," Gandhi said addressing election rallies at Baripada and Balasore in Odisha.
Asking the people to remain vigilant and alert towards BJP's approach, the Congress chief said the saffron party's ideology would be harmful for the country and appropriate steps must be taken to check it.
Congress, on the other hand, has been working sincerely to ensure unity and harmony in society without showing any discrimination towards any section, she said adding, "Our party's aim is to unite the people, which is the tradition of India."
Stating that both BJP and BJD have the single-point agenda to oppose Congress, the UPA Chairperson said the two parties have been trying to mislead people by levelling false and baseless charges against Congress.
Asking people not to pay heed to "false campaign" launched by BJP and BJD in their bid to gain power, Gandhi said Congress is not worried over the tricks used by these parties as it is sincerely working for the poor and downtrodden.
Stating that Congress has been working for the uplift of tribals, backward, poor, women and weaker sections of society since the days of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, she said now Rahul Gandhi was trying to make their dream a reality.
Dubbing the BJD government in Odisha as being anti-farmer, corrupt, inefficient and non-performing, Gandhi alleged that about 4,000 farmers committed suicide in the state during 14-year rule of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Though the Centre provides bonus on paddy procurement, no such incentive is given in Odisha, she said.
Farmers are deprived of irrigation facilities, but the Naveen Patnaik government provides river water liberally to big industries at the cost of the poor and distressed peasants, she added.
Alleging massive corruption to the tune of Rs 500 crore in the rural job scheme MGNREGA in Odisha, Gandhi said huge funds provided by the UPA government for various welfare schemes are misappropriated by the ruling BJD in the state.
Similarly, bunglings to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore took place in the implementation of the mid-day meal programme, while corruption involving Rs 2,700 crore was detected in the BPL rice scheme, the Congress President claimed.
Gandhi said funds provided by the Centre to Odisha for various tribal and rural development programmes were diverted, while crores of rupees meant for Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) remained unutilised, leaving vast areas without power.
As the state government "collaborated" with fraud chitfund companies, a large number of poor and innocent investors were duped of their hard-earned money, she said.
Voicing concern over the plight of women in Odisha, Gandhi said atrocities against women were growing but the BJD government was not acting against the culprits.
Describing the Food Security Act as a historic measure of the UPA government, the Congress chief said though the law was aimed at ending hunger and starvation, the Odisha government was not implementing it.
As part of efforts to safeguard the interests of tribals, Forest Rights Act was brought to ensure legal rights of tribals over land, but BJD government's contribution towards mitigating the plight of tribals was nil, she said.
Maintaining that Congress seeks to complete its unfinished work, Gandhi said the party has promised right to health and will provide free medical treatment and medicines.
Similarly, people would have the right to homestead land, while there would be legal provisions for pension for the elderly, widows and others, she said adding the number of women police stations in the country would be increased from 500 to 2,000.
In order to see a brighter future, people must give another term to Congress at the Centre and oust BJD in Odisha, Gandhi said.
