“You should never trust these people who show you dreams. You must realise that they are not with you as their only agenda is to grab the kursi (chair) and not to serve people,” she said.
The people should not take such parties at face value and seriously apply their mind before voting in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the UPA chairperson said. She claimed that Congress had always been with the poor, dalits, tribals and the downtrodden and backed the people during crises.
Citing the instance of bauxite rich Niyamgiri Hills in the state, Gandhi said the Congress stood ‘solidly' behind the tribals when the BJD government was out to hand it over to a company for mining.
“Rahulji immediately took up the matter and ensured that the rights of the tribals in the area were fully protected ... prevented proposed mining in the area despite state government's attempts,” she said.
As far back in 1967, Indira Gandhi addressed to the problems faced by the people of drought-prone Kalahandi and established Indravati multi-purpose project for irrigation of vast areas, Gandhi said.
Overcoming many hurdles the UPA government had brought the Food Security Act which provided rights on ration for all to usher in a hunger-free India, she said. UPA also implemented the Forest Right Act to safeguard the interests of the tribals and forest dwellers. The measure, she said, would go a long way in ensuring welfare of the tribals by giving them rights over land.
The Congress president said the UPA had taken concrete steps for protecting the interest of people whose land were being acquired in the name of development. The land acquisition law brought by the Centre would ensure payment of proper compensation to land-losers and prevent harassment. Without the consent of the people and without guarantee of proper rehabilitation, no land could now be acquired, she said.
In order to provide employment in rural areas and improve the economic condition of villagers the MGNREGA programme was introduced by the UPA, she said.
Congress, she claimed, had always worked sincerely for the rural population and a host of programmes including Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana launched by the UPA government.
However, states like Odisha were not sincerely implementing these programmes, she alleged. Claiming Congress as a pro-poor party, Gandhi said one of the major goals in the party's election manifesto was to provide free medical treatment and medicines to the needy. Besides, pucca houses would be provided to all for which a law would be enacted, she added.
