BJP caught in the hands of one man: Sonia

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Wednesday said the BJP was caught up in the hands of a single individual and the nation should not fall into this trap.

She said the Congress has done the most to help Sri Lankan Tamils and the centre is taking steps to secure the release of fishermen housed in Lankan jails.

Addressing her first election rally in Tamil Nadu in this district around 710 km from Chennai, Gandhi said the nation was being divided on the basis of religion which in turn would destroy social peace.

She said if social peace is disturbed, then economic and social growth would get affected.

Gandhi said the BJP was in the hands of a single individual, and urged the people to see that the nation does not get into his hands.

She said the Congress's philosophy was to provide equal opportunity to all which was also India's dream.

Replying to criticism that the Congress has not done anything for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils, Gandhi wondered which other party has done more than the Congress.

She recalled the death of her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, and asked what other sacrifice could have been made.

Gandhi said the Congress has taken several steps to find a political solution for the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

On the issue of fishermen being attacked and arrested by Sri Lankan forces, she said her party was alive to the issue, and steps were being taken to get the fishermen released from Sri Lankan jails.

Gandhi also referred to the central government's efforts to facilitate talks between the fishing communities of both the countries.

On the achievements of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Gandhi cited how the Right to Information Act and laws for the protection of women and children were enacted.

She said that during the UPA's 10-year rule, several crores of people have been brought above the poverty line.

The Congress leader also said the nation's economy grew by 7.5 percent when other countries were facing problems.