Renaming of state token of respect to statehood fight for: Sonia

Srinagar, Garhwal, Feb 16 (UNI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said that the UPA government's decision to rename Uttaranchal as Uttarakhand was a gesture of respect to the struggle of the people for separate state.

Addressing a rally here before the forthcoming Assembly election on February 21, she said that the Congress government in the state has performed well and had laid a strong foundation of development, the fruit of which would be reaped in the coming days. She stressed that more schemes relating to women welfare were needed to be initiated, though various programmes had been initiated by the N D Tiwari regine.

''By reducing petrol and diesel prices, the UPA Government has taken further steps towards public welfare,'' she said. Maintaining that the Congress was a party that has participated in the freedom struggle and was committed to the people, she appealed to the electors to vote it back to power.

Chief Minister N D Tiwari, State Congress Chief Harish Rawat, State-in-charge Motilal Vora and General Secretary Mukul Wasnik were also present on the occasion.

UNI