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Sonia sells Congress to Ranchi crowds, even as Kesri fails to join her

Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday refused to commit herself on the long-standing demand for the creation of a separate Jharkhand state.

Addressing a gathering, Sonia, accompanied by her daughter Priyanka, preferred not to touch upon the statehood issue during her speech that lasted more than 10 minutes.

Asserting that the Congress alone could provide a stable and strong government, she cautioned the people against parties trying to assume power on the planks of religion and caste.

Expressing concern over growing poverty, mutual distrust, conflict and confrontation in Bihar, she called upon the people to vote for the Congress as it alone had a vision for an overall development of the country and the uplift of women, tribals, minorities and weaker sections.

Stability and a strong government at the Centre were the need of the hour, she said, claiming that the Congress alone has the vision to fight poverty which has emerged as the greatest challenge before this country. and that the party would continue its struggle against unemployment, illiteracy and inflation.

"My family has sacrificed four generations serving the nation,'' Sonia said, adding that she herself had toured the villages of Bihar along with her husband on several occasions to understand the problems and get acquainted with the feelings of the people.

Rajiv Gandhi, she said, moved by the plight of the people, had even sent Manmohan Singh to find out the problems plaguing Bihar. ''My husband wanted a special programme to be mooted for the overall development of the state,'' she added.

A special package was announced soon for Bihar with schemes for its industrial and agricultural development, she said, adding that it was unfortunate that the projects initiated by her husband for the development of Bihar were stalled by the non-Congress governments, which later came to power at the Centre.

Congress chief Sitaram Kesri, who was to join the party's campaign, however, failed to turn up. According to party Rajya Sabha member Gyan Ranjan, some technical snag had developed in the aircraft by which Kesri was to reach here.

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