“We brought the Lokpal, which they tried to stall. On the other hand, they cry hoarse about corruption and retain tainted ministers in the Gujarat Cabinet and turn a blind eye to allegations of corruption in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,” he claimed.
Talking about a recent visit to a slum in Mumbai, Gandhi said, “A slum-dweller caught hold of my hand and expressed his anguish upon being subjected to untold intimidation and harassment at the hands of Shiv Sena workers.
“BJP has a tie-up with the same Shiv Sena and yet has the brazenness to seek votes from the people of UP and Bihar who have been at the receiving end of the atrocities committed by Shiv Sainiks”.
“Some time back I had travelled to Mumbai in a train. I did that just to spread the message that people from any part of the country were free to travel anywhere in their search for better educational and employment prospects and to defeat the forces which are bent upon spreading hatred,” he said.
“Congress believes in creating an atmosphere wherein every citizen is able to feel at home in any part of the country,” he said.
Stressing on the UPA government's commitment towards the upliftment of women, Gandhi said, “I visualise a future in which half our MLAs and MPs would be from the fair sex.
“Our commitment was reflected in the Women's Reservation Bill, which the opposition did not allow us to get passed. They seem to be wary of the power of women. “But once we return to power, we will ensure that women of the country get their due... India can't be a superpower without empowering half its population.”
A number of other party leaders, including former Test cricketer Mohd Kaif, actor-turned-politician Ravi Kishen, local MP Rajkumari Ratna Singh, the party's state unit chief Nirmal Khatri and Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari, too, addressed the rally at the Ram Lila ground in Pratapgarh, about 65-km from Allahabad.
Gandhi also highlighted the efforts made by UPA government to generate employment, and said, “We aim to improve our manufacturing sector in a big way so that India moves ahead of even China.”
“The Dedicated Freight Corridor, which has been one of the key projects of UPA, is aimed at bringing this much-desired improvement in the manufacturing sector,” he added.
