Sonia Gandhi calls Third and Fourth Front leaders "power hungry"

Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), May 1 (ANI): UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has slammed the Third and Fourth Fronts for having "sole aim to grab power" without being least concerned about the welfare of the country.

Addressing a poll rally in at the Ramlila Maidan in Sriganganagar, Gandhi said the Congress wanted to serve the people even without chair and power.

Terming the previous NDA regime as "an era of darkness", she said, "NDA's rule was devoted to spreading hatred in the name of religion and caste and poisoning the society. Country's borders were unsafe during the period."

The Congress President also praised Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for having taken a number of initiatives for the welfare of poor, dalit, farmers and youth in Uttar Pradesh.

If voted to power again, she said the UPA alliance was committed to carry forward all the development schemes and pending projects.

Expressing her gratitude to public for bringing back the Congress Government in Rajasthan, she said all promises made during the assembly polls would be fulfilled.

"Congress' policies and approach are never meant for any single religion or a particular caste but these were holistic and for the welfare of everyone regardless of communities," she said.

Among the UPA Government's achievements, she highlighted NREGA, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Bharat Nirman, farmers' loan waiver, and nuclear power deal.

Recalling the sacrifices of Sriganganagar's martyrs in India's freedom movement, she said they had laid down their lives in protection and security of the border.

She also praised local farmers for their contribution to increase country's agriculture production.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, PCC President C P Joshi shared stage with Sonia Gandhi. (ANI)