Live Reporting: Sonia Gandhi lashes out at Left in Kerala convention

Kochi (Kerala): Congress President Sonia Gandhi today lashed out at the Left Front in Kerala, saying that it believes in outdated ideology and dogmas of the past. The party chief said, Left parties which have been shouting about corruption from rooftops, have not taken action against their own corrupt leaders in Kerala and West Bengal. Sonia Gandhi was addressing a special Congress convention here, projected as the launch of the Congress' election campaign in the state.Sonia Gandhi launched the state government project 'Nirbhaya Keralam, Surakshitha Keralam', a project to prevent atrocities against women and children in Kerala.The convention was attended by prominent leaders of Congress. Sonia Gandhi appealed to Congressmen to fight the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections unitedly. "There is no this group, that group. There is only one group in the Congress party."Here is the live reporting of today's convention: 1:55 pm: Let's fight unitedly the oncoming challenge. Congress party is the only group. That is the way we will win the battle. Thank you. Jai Hind. End of speech.1:54 pm: To met, there is no this group or that group. We are all one group. We are all Congressmen and women. This is how we will fight the coming electoral battle. (Crowd applauds).1:53 pm: We must strive for unity. We must continue to work for the future of India, and not for the dogmas of the past. 1:52 pm: Let there be no illusion, the rivals' real intention must be clear to us. I am sure you will join me in resisting them with all our might. 1:50 pm: Congress committed to protecting the rights of tribals and women. That is our utmost priority. We want to protect bio-diversity, but security of livelihood is also paramount. We will take steps both objectives are fulfilled in a harmonious manner. Next few weeks are going to be very challenging. Our rivals may be saying, after 10 years of UPA rule, things will change. A change to what? Will people want to switch over to those parties who believe in making lies?1:49 pm: In last few years under leadership of Oommen Chandyji, the Metro project is progressing, and many other measures have been taken. Kannur has become India's first zero-illiteracy district of India. Thiruvananthapuram has become a modern capital. 1:48 pm: We have passed Lokpal bill to fight corruption. There are many, many other bills. but you know the Opposition is stalling Parliament every day to ensure these bills are not passed. 1:46 pm: We brought RTI, MNREGA and Food Security Act. this is not charity, this is the right of the people of India, says Sonia. At every occasion when cases of corruption came to our instance, we took action. I want to know what action did they take when cases of corruption came against their own leaders here in Kerala and in Bengal. They did not take any action. 1:45 pm:Left Fron rejects the principles of non-violence. We rely on discussion, they rely on violence and mass killings. It is because of huge growth in the last 10 years that the govt of Manmohanji has been able to launch large numer of programmes, like rural development, urbal development, sanitation, education and health, and it is the conomic growth that helped the Centre to provide to ALL states with funds for development. We now have record production of foodgrains, and procurement prices of rice and other cereals have more than doubled. 1:40 pm: Sonia Gandhi speaks: Left has become a party of ideology that has become irrelevant today. They are relying on slogans of the past. 12:54 pm: Sonia Gandhi and all Congress leaders stand on stage, as Vande Mataram is sung. Sonia sits on a pillow, as all Congress leaders squat on mattresses covered with white sheets.