Defeat communal forces: Renuka Chowdhury

Puducherry, Apr 3 (UNI) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women and Child Development Ms Renuka Chowdhury today called upon Congress volunteers to strive not only to strengthen the party but also to save the country from ''communal forces such as BJP.'' Addressing the party workers at the PCC(I) office on her arrival to inaugurate the Cradle Baby Scheme here, the minister said ''only the Congress party will fullfill the dreams of the common people.'' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram had given a jump of 26 per cent in the Union Budget for her ministry compared to the last year's allocation, she siad.

The vision of Rajiv Gandhi was to empower women with participation in Panchayat Raj institutions with at least 33 per cent, she said, adding today women's participation had increased to 42 per cent.

It was the responsibility of every Congress worker to strengthen the party at the grassroot level, she said.

AICC General Secretary V Narayansamy, Ministers V Vaithilingam, E Valsaraj and M Kandasamy and PCC(I) President A V Subramanian, among others participated in the function.

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