Sonia appeals for peace for fast development

Dimapur, Mar 01 (UNI) AICC President Sonia Gandhi today appealed to the people of Nagaland to create a peaceful atmosphere so that fast development could take place.

Addressing an election rally at the Dimapur District Sports Complex (DDSC) ground here this afternoon, Mrs Gandhi said the people of Nagaland have suffered a lot because of the 'misrule' of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government and now want a peaceful atmosphere for their all round development.

She observed that the younger generation of the state was misled by certain forces and appealed to the youths to come back to the mainstream and lend their hands to the Congress for the state's development.

The UPA Chairperson claimed that it was the Congress which brought independence to the country, and it was this party which gave statehood to Nagaland. ''This is the only secular party which can provide justice to all sections of the society,'' she asserted .

She said the UPA government in the Centre has been paying full attention to the North east and adequate funds have been provided for the region's development. But the DAN Government in Nagaland, despite getting funds had failed to utilise it, she alleged.

She stated that the UPA Government had sanctioned Rs fifty crore for development of roads in the North East as well as laying of railway line between Dimapur to Zubza.

Three Information Technology Centres have already been opened in the state,she added.

Speaking about the General Budget, she described it as a 'historic one' where the North East will get Rs sixty crores for various developmental projects.

Earlier, AICC General Secretary Margaret Alva and Congress Legislature Party leader I.Imkong also spoke in the rally.

UNI AS KK DB1823