Only Congress can deliver the goods: P.M.

Chandigarh, January 13

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi today called upon the people of Punjab to help the Congress in what she called “the great task of reconstruction of the country.”

Mrs. Gandhi, was arrived here by air from New Delhi this morning on a two-day election tour of Punjab, was addressing her first public meeting at Banur, about 35 kilometres from here.

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Earlier, at Chandigarh airport, she was received among others by Rajasthan Chief Minister Mohan Lal Sukhadia, Pradesh Congress President Zail Singh,  Punjab and Haryana Governors and the Chief Commissioner.

Mrs. Gandhi was accompanied by her Cabinet colleagues, Mr. K.K. Shah, Mr. I.K. Gujral and Mr Iqbal Singh and also by Haryana Finance Minister Om Prabha Jain.

Mrs. Gandhi traced the recent history of India, which according to her, was the history of the Congress Party in the freedom struggle. This freedom, she said, had to be defended at all costs.

The Prime Minister said she wanted the people to understand the basic problems of the country so that they knew what was to be done.

She said the mid-term poll was not merely a question of elections. It was a question of the economic emancipation of the people and the reconstruction of the country, Mrs. Gandhi said adding that the Congress alone could deliver the goods.

Our correspondents add:

BHATINDA: Addressing an election meeting here Mrs. Gandhi today said that the United Front Government in several States had fallen because of bickerings among the partners and asserted that the Congress alone could provide a stable administration.

Mrs. Gandhi, who drove to Bhatinda from Chandigarh addressed over half a dozen meetings at different places, including Patiala and Sangrur, on the way.

She referred to the “misdeeds” of United Front Governments and said a Government consisting of several parties with divergent views could not deliver the goods.

Mrs. Gandhi said strong Governments in the State would strengthen the Centre and speed up the development of the country.

She warned the people against “false slogans” of parties which sought to exploit language, caste, creed and religion and said other countries would feel encouraged to attack India if they found that the people were not united. Peace and Unity were essential for the defence of the country and for speedy progress, she said.

MATTER UNDER PHOTO:

The Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi arrives at the Chandigarh airport on Monday, on her way to Patiala and other places to address the Congress election meeting. She was received by the Haryana Governor,Mr. Chakravarty (extreme left), Mr. Damodar Das, Chief Commssioner, Chandigarh (2nd from right) and Mr. Zail Singh, P.C.C. President, (extreme right) and others.