Congress committed to protect all sections of society: Sonia

Mangalore, May 13 (UNI) Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi today said the party was committed to protect the interests of all sections of the society.

Addressing an election rally here, she said ''the Congress is striving to protect the interests of all sections of the society.'' Ms Gandhi said if her party was voted to power in Karnataka in the Assembly elections, it would provide a stable government for the next five years.

Alleging that the previous BJP-JD(S) Coalition Government had ruined the state, she said the 20-month-old coalition government in Karnataka not only ''derailed'' the progress of the state but was also ''involved'' in several scandals.

Taking serious exception to the BJP criticising Congress for not effectively tackling terror activities, she alleged that the saffron party was responsible for the growth of terrorism and it was during the NDA regime that the then External Minister Jaswant Singh ''shamelessly'' took hardcore terrorists to Khandhar.

Listing out various welfare schemes launched by the UPA Government, including the ''historic'' Rs 60,000 crore loan waiver for farmers, National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and Women Empowerment Programme, Ms Gandhi assured that similar programmes would be included in the State Budget, if the party was voted to power.

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