NEW DELHI, March 24 (Agencies): New Delhi: The Congress accused the BJP of being a divisive force, termed the “so-called” Third Front as a “recipe for chaos” and sought to pitch itself as the party best equipped to deal “decisively” with the challenges of terrorism and “severe recession”.
The party is projecting Manmohan Singh as the next prime minister of the country saying that there could be many candidates for the post but no one matched up to him. Sonia ruled out the possibility of her becoming the party’s prime ministerial candidate and said there was no change in her position taken in 2004 when she refused the top job.
“There can be many candidates for the post of prime minister but nobody stands in front of Manmohan Singh. He has both experience and competence,” she added while releasing the party’s manifesto here. She said that the people would vote for the Congress keeping in mind the achievements of the UPA government in the last five years.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, left, and Congress party President Sonia Gandhi release the party manifesto ahead of the general elections in New Delhi, March 24. Elections in India will be held in five phases beginning in April as the current government’s five-year term ends. (AP Photo)
The Congress party said it would introduce measures to ensure that economic growth is maintained and protect farmers from the impact of a global slowdown. It would extend interest relief to farmers and build on the national job guarantee scheme, both seen as potential vote winners in the general election to be held next month. “When I look at the opportunities, I am convinced that this country can move forward on a road to faster, more equitable growth,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at the launch of the manifesto.
Ridiculing the BJP’s “muscular” foreign policy to deal with terror, the Congress said the country required an “intelligent and wise” policy as practiced by the UPA government over the last five years. The party manifesto released by prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi took credit for the “forceful diplomatic campaign” in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks which led to Pakistan admitting for the first time that its nationals carried out the terror strikes.
“That admission was a notable victory for our well thought out foreign policy,” it said. The party termed the Third Front as a grouping of “opportunistic parties” which has “neither competence nor commitment” and is “grounded in the politics of convenience”. Seeking to position itself as a bulwark against communalism, linguistic chauvinism, regional parochialism and casteism, the Congress termed the contest with the BJP as a “clash between two competing visions of Indian nationalism.
Attacking the Left parties, particularly for their stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Congress lashed out at their attempts to “exercise authority without taking on any responsibility.” “At every step, they violated the discipline, restraint, sobriety so very essential for running a coalition smoothly,” the manifesto said about the Left parties who supported the UPA government for over four years.
The manifesto, drafted by a team of leaders headed by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, also claimed that the Left parties, which “pride themselves on being secular”, had actively aligned with the BJP in the past and were “responsible” for the growth of the saffron party. The Congress termed the Third Front, led by “prime movers” Left Front, as a recipe for political instability as it lacked a “national anchor”. “It is a recipe for chaos, not cohesion,” the manifesto said.
It sought to pat itself for striking a “balance” in policies in building a modern economy and imparting a new thrust to traditional industries, which is standing the country in good stead as the world experiences a severe recession.” It contended that the economy has showed considerable resilience due to the policies of successive Congress governments -- the vibrant public sector nurtured by Jawaharlal Nehru, government ownership of banks, a legacy of Indira Gandhi and strong private sector that matured and flowered during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi and thereafter.
Manmohan questions Advani’s contribution to nation
New Delhi, March 24 (PTI): In a stinging attack on senior BJP leader L K Advani, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he had played a “prominent role” in the Babri Masjid demolition, presided over Gujarat riots and failed to prevent terror attacks on Parliament and Red Fort as Home Minister. Upset by Advani’s allegations that he is a “weak” Prime Minister, Singh hit back by questioning the BJP leader’s contribution to the welfare of the country as Home Minister and said the electorate should decide whether Advani should lead the nation.
He also accused Advani of being “opportunist” while praising Pakistan founder M A Jinnah during his visit to Pakistan four years back. “Whether I am a weak or a strong Prime Minister, actions of our government speak volumes about it,” Singh told reporters while releasing the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Noting that Advani keeps on making this charge, Singh referred to Babri Masjid demolition, terror attacks that took place during previous NDA government and hijacking of Indian Airlines plane while reminding BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate about his performance.
I am not going to be PM: Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi, March 24 (PTI): Congress president Sonia Gandhi today ruled out the possibility of her becoming the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate and said there was no change in her position taken in 2004 when she refused the top job. “I had made my position (on the issue of PM’s post) very clear in 2004 and there is no change in that position even now,” Gandhi said when asked whether she will consider herself for Prime Ministership after the Lok Sabha polls.
Despite being elected as the Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party after the 2004 elections, Gandhi had refused to take over the top job and instead given the mantle to Manmohan Singh. To questions on the issue of Prime Ministerial candidate, Gandhi flashed the party’s manifesto and pointed to Manmohan Singh’s picture on its cover.
Source: Agencies/Morung Exress
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The party is projecting Manmohan Singh as the next prime minister of the country saying that there could be many candidates for the post but no one matched up to him. Sonia ruled out the possibility of her becoming the party’s prime ministerial candidate and said there was no change in her position taken in 2004 when she refused the top job.
“There can be many candidates for the post of prime minister but nobody stands in front of Manmohan Singh. He has both experience and competence,” she added while releasing the party’s manifesto here. She said that the people would vote for the Congress keeping in mind the achievements of the UPA government in the last five years.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, left, and Congress party President Sonia Gandhi release the party manifesto ahead of the general elections in New Delhi, March 24. Elections in India will be held in five phases beginning in April as the current government’s five-year term ends. (AP Photo)
The Congress party said it would introduce measures to ensure that economic growth is maintained and protect farmers from the impact of a global slowdown. It would extend interest relief to farmers and build on the national job guarantee scheme, both seen as potential vote winners in the general election to be held next month. “When I look at the opportunities, I am convinced that this country can move forward on a road to faster, more equitable growth,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at the launch of the manifesto.
Ridiculing the BJP’s “muscular” foreign policy to deal with terror, the Congress said the country required an “intelligent and wise” policy as practiced by the UPA government over the last five years. The party manifesto released by prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi took credit for the “forceful diplomatic campaign” in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks which led to Pakistan admitting for the first time that its nationals carried out the terror strikes.
“That admission was a notable victory for our well thought out foreign policy,” it said. The party termed the Third Front as a grouping of “opportunistic parties” which has “neither competence nor commitment” and is “grounded in the politics of convenience”. Seeking to position itself as a bulwark against communalism, linguistic chauvinism, regional parochialism and casteism, the Congress termed the contest with the BJP as a “clash between two competing visions of Indian nationalism.
Attacking the Left parties, particularly for their stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Congress lashed out at their attempts to “exercise authority without taking on any responsibility.” “At every step, they violated the discipline, restraint, sobriety so very essential for running a coalition smoothly,” the manifesto said about the Left parties who supported the UPA government for over four years.
The manifesto, drafted by a team of leaders headed by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, also claimed that the Left parties, which “pride themselves on being secular”, had actively aligned with the BJP in the past and were “responsible” for the growth of the saffron party. The Congress termed the Third Front, led by “prime movers” Left Front, as a recipe for political instability as it lacked a “national anchor”. “It is a recipe for chaos, not cohesion,” the manifesto said.
It sought to pat itself for striking a “balance” in policies in building a modern economy and imparting a new thrust to traditional industries, which is standing the country in good stead as the world experiences a severe recession.” It contended that the economy has showed considerable resilience due to the policies of successive Congress governments -- the vibrant public sector nurtured by Jawaharlal Nehru, government ownership of banks, a legacy of Indira Gandhi and strong private sector that matured and flowered during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi and thereafter.
Manmohan questions Advani’s contribution to nation
New Delhi, March 24 (PTI): In a stinging attack on senior BJP leader L K Advani, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he had played a “prominent role” in the Babri Masjid demolition, presided over Gujarat riots and failed to prevent terror attacks on Parliament and Red Fort as Home Minister. Upset by Advani’s allegations that he is a “weak” Prime Minister, Singh hit back by questioning the BJP leader’s contribution to the welfare of the country as Home Minister and said the electorate should decide whether Advani should lead the nation.
He also accused Advani of being “opportunist” while praising Pakistan founder M A Jinnah during his visit to Pakistan four years back. “Whether I am a weak or a strong Prime Minister, actions of our government speak volumes about it,” Singh told reporters while releasing the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Noting that Advani keeps on making this charge, Singh referred to Babri Masjid demolition, terror attacks that took place during previous NDA government and hijacking of Indian Airlines plane while reminding BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate about his performance.
I am not going to be PM: Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi, March 24 (PTI): Congress president Sonia Gandhi today ruled out the possibility of her becoming the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate and said there was no change in her position taken in 2004 when she refused the top job. “I had made my position (on the issue of PM’s post) very clear in 2004 and there is no change in that position even now,” Gandhi said when asked whether she will consider herself for Prime Ministership after the Lok Sabha polls.
Despite being elected as the Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party after the 2004 elections, Gandhi had refused to take over the top job and instead given the mantle to Manmohan Singh. To questions on the issue of Prime Ministerial candidate, Gandhi flashed the party’s manifesto and pointed to Manmohan Singh’s picture on its cover.
Source: Agencies/Morung Exress
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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