(repeating correcting typos)
Rae Bareli, UP, Mar 28 (UNI) AICC president Sonia Gandhi today came back to the people of Rae Bareli to assert she would not ''bow down to the opposition attack'' and fight the Lok Sabha elections from this constituency only.
Addressing a mammoth public meeting here, Mrs Gandhi asserted that former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were also targets of opposition onslaught.
''Now, all opposition salvos are aimed at me directly.'' Dressed in an off-white sari with mustard colour border, she observed, ''Agar bijli bhi girti hai to log kehte hain ki Sonia Gandhi ki wajah se giri hai (People even blame lightning from sky on Sonia Gandhi).'' However, the Congress president reiterated she would ''fight back,'' even as she sought the support of the people of Rae Bareli to hit back at the opposition.
Mrs Gandhi represented the Rae Bareli constituency in Lok Sabha before resigning from her seat following the office of profit controversy.
She maintained that as a local MP it was her duty to explain the reason behind her resignation. ''First of all, I discussed the issue with daughter Priyanka and son Rahul...then I came to you to explain the reason.'' The Congress president claimed the opposition was attacking her for holding the office of profit, ''But, the formation of National Advisory Council (NAC) was only aimed at implementing the common minimum programme (CMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).'' ''But, after my resignation everyone is silent. People who had attacked me are now finding ways out of the issue,'' she observed in her 15 minute speech.
''Jung jaari rahegi, caravan badhta rahega (The fight will continue, the journey will progress).'' Mrs Gandhi is scheduled to return to the national capital this evening via Lucknow.
UNI NAB VS ARB DS1632