Sonia swears by family ideals

KUDUDINI (Bellary), Sept 3 (PTI) — Making her electoral debut, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today spent the last day of campaign undertaking a hectic tour of this rural constituency asserting that Congress alone would be able to provide a stable government after what she called 13 months of "political opportunism". Ms Gandhi, accompanied by her daughter Priyanka, addressed a series of public meetings telling people she was making her electoral debut from here to adhere to the "dharma" of the Nehru-Gandhi family to serve the nation. "Main is chunav mein satta ke liye nahin, lekin parivar dharm, desh seva dharm nibhane ke liye khadi hoon (I am not contesting for power but to adhere to the ideals of my family to serve the nation), "Ms Gandhi told well-attended public meetings.

Bellary: Priyanka Vadra waves to the crowd during an election campaign at Kuduthani in Bellary district on Friday, where her mother Sonia Gandhi is contesting against senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj. — PTI

Recalling the contributions of "Indira amma" and Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress President made a scathing attack on the Vajpayee government saying that it had failed on all fronts, including national security.

She said the BJP-led coalition had made a series of promises before coming to power in the last elections but failed to fulfil any of them.

Ms Gandhi, whose foreign origin has been made a poll issue by her detractors, said "Meri kismat hamesha ke liye is desh ki mitti se bandhi hai. Ise koyi tod nahin sakta (my fate has been irrevocably linked with this nation and no one will be able to sever it)".

Besides addressing meetings in the Bellary constituency, where she is pitted against BJP's Sushma Swaraj, Ms Gandhi also addressed a rally at Hospet.

Ms Gandhi asserted that those who levelled allegations against her could not prevent her from serving the people.

Mrs Gandhi's speech in Hindi was translated into Kannada.

Her party has a well thought-out plan for the welfare of women, youth and the weaker sections. There should be a stable government to implement this programme and, therefore, the Congress should be voted to power, she added.