Sonia flays Chhattisgarh government over security situation

She reminded people of the May 25 Maoist ambush in Bastar that had wiped out almost the entire Congress leadership

Launching a blistering attack on Raman Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh over law and order situation, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today reminded people of the May 25 Maoist ambush in Bastar that had wiped out almost the entire Congress leadership.

Talking about the rights-based schemes of UPA like Forest Act, Food Security, Gandhi also announced a number of sops including maximum support price (MSP) on forest produces like that on foodgrain to benefit large sections of tribals dependent on them.

"So many people were killed in the Naxal violence. My colleagues in Congress sacrificed their life. We are today feeling their absence in a big way today," Gandhi said.

Her remarks seeking to strike an emotional chord with locals comes at a time when Congress is making a desperate attempt to stage a comeback in Maoist-hit Bastar region, where the BJP has captured the political space in last two elections.

Gandhi also said that the UPA government has continuously supported Chief Minister Raman Singh in fighting the challenge of Naxalism but rued that many areas in the Maoist-hit regions lack even appropriate roads.

Hitting out at the BJP, she said, "These people only talk big things, where as Congress does the work."

Stressing that UPA's focus is on "development with pro-poor face", Gandhi said Congress wants development of the country but that should take place along with development of weaker sections" and rued that despite the schemes by UPA like MNREGA to check distress migration in search of livelihood, people of Chhattisgarh are compelled to go out of the state.

Accusing BJP of practising "divisive" politics, Gandhi said, "While the BJP wants to pit one brother against another, we want to take everybody along and connect people" and urged voters "not to fall in the trap of false promises by anyone" and ensure a Congress government in the state remembering the latter's history and its contribution to the country's development.