The Hindu : Country in grip of communal forces: Sonia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 18, 2003

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Country in grip of communal forces: Sonia

Gauriganj (U.P.) Jan. 17. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, today launched a scathing attack on the Vajpayee Government at the Centre and the Mayawati dispensation in Uttar Padesh saying that ``communal and casteist forces have gripped the country and the State and were indulging in rampant corruption''.

``The youth should initiate the process of liberating the country and the State from the forces which are exploiting the people in the name of community and caste,'' she said addressing a `yuva jagriti sammelan', organised by the Youth Congress in her Parliamentary constituency.

``I have full faith in the capabilities and strength of the youth and am confident that they will usher in a change," she said.

Recalling the contribution of her husband Rajiv Gandhi, she said a new era of modernisation was initiated by him in the field of science and information technology during his brief tenure as the Prime Minister.

``The country is marching ahead through the path of progress set by him.''

Earlier, speakers at the function requested her to bring her daughter Priyanka Vadra into active politics by making her the AICC president.

Congress workers also gave her a memorandum to be submitted to the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, for naming the newly-created district after Rajiv Gandhi.

Ms. Gandhi arrived here this afternoon by road from Lucknow for a two-day stay in her parliamentary constituency.

— PTI

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