NDA's policies anti-poor: Sonia

By Aarti Dhar

BILASPUR (CHHATTISGARH), JAN.23. Accusing the Nation Democratic Alliance (NDA) of a lack of vision, the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, today called upon the people to fight the forces who were out to destroy the social fabric by their ``caste-based and anti-people policies.''

Addressing a public rally at Mungeli in the newly- created State of Chhattisgarh, Ms. Gandhi said the only aim of those who wanted to amend the Constitution was to be in power forever. The fault lay in the implementation and not in the Constitution, she said. ``Amending the Constitution amounted to showing disrespect to leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr. Ambedkar,'' she said.

The Centre had no vision and sympathy for the poor. Its anti- people and anti-poor policies had resulted in poverty and unemployment. ``Whatever improvement has come in the condition of the poor and the backwards after Independence, is because of the Congress which is a well-wisher of the poor,'' Ms. Gandhi said. Referring to the drought conditions in Chhattisgarh, she said it was ironical that while the country produced excess foodgrains and there was no space to store it, the people of the State were starving. ``What rice the Centre is sending to the State for free distribution, is your right and not charity,'' she said amid applause.

Asking the Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi, to work with dedication for the development of the area, Ms. Gandhi said politicians were there to ``serve the people, not rule over them.''

This was Ms. Gandhi's first visit to the State after its creation and also marked the beginning of the campaign for the Chief Minister, who is contesting from the nearby constituency of Murwahi, in the byelection to be held next month. The Congress (I) has been losing in Bilaspur for the past four elections.

In his speech, Mr. Jogi expressed gratitude for Ms. Gandhi for choosing him to head the Government. He had been selected because of his having been born in a poor, tribal family, who understood the problems of the people.

Senior Congress leader, Mr. Motilal Vora, hoped that Ms. Gandhi's visit would help resolve some problems in the State.

The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Shyama Charan Shukla, called upon the people to fight communal forces.

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