Sonia says Nuke power crucial for development

Erode (Tamil Nadu), Sept 4 : Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said nuclear power is crucial for the country's development and for that we need to sign Indo-US nuke deal.

She said the Opposition parties targeted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government over US disclosures on the controversial pact.

"It is imperative for the country to have nuclear power for its development," Sonia told a rally in Erode, a town in Tamil Nadu.

"We are a big country, with over 100 crore people. We need energy. We believe that nuclear power is crucial. More the power, quicker the development," she said.

Sonia said we can use this power for households, industries as well as farmers.

Referring to the construction of two nuclear reactors at Koodankulam in Tirunelveli district, she said Tamil Nadu will start receiving power from the plant soon.

She said for her party, the people and country came first.

In the wake of election, Sonia also listed the achievements of the UPA government and also explained the projects and schemes being implemented by the Congress-led coalition.

She added that the farm loan waiver of Rs 66,000 crore was one of the biggest achievements of the UPA government.

The Congress President said the UPA and the Congress had taken very special care to address all concerns of the people of Tamil Nadu.

She said railway lines in the entire state would be converted into broad gauge in another three years.

The rally is being held as a part of series of rallies planned by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) in the run-up to next year's Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress has planned to hold rallies at Tiruchirapalli, Madurai and Tiruneveli in the next three months, to be addressed by Sonia.

On Friday, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sonia will attend the 150th year celebrations of the Madras University in Chennai. They will be conferred honorary doctorates, along with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

Besides, they will also lay the foundation for an integrated steel plant in Salem in the afternoon.

ANI