Sonia attacks Opposition for cheap politics

     Rae Bareli: Accusing the Opposition of practising cheap politics and of consistently targeting her because of her foreign origin, Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi assured her Rae Bareli electorate that she would not yield to to her opponents' moves and would continue to fight for the welfare of the poor and the needy. Sonia, who had resigned from the National Advisory Council and from Parliament last week, said she wanted to give a "befitting reply" to the Opposition for "targeting" her for holding an "office of profit". "Since I resigned as Lok Sabha MP, they (Opposition) has changed its tune and almost stopped talking about the issue of office of profit. They have stopped talking about political integrity and began discussing about how could they save themselves from being disqualified as legislators for holding an office of profit," Sonia said at a hurriedly arranged public rally here.

    She said that when the controversy over "office of profit" gained momentum and she was being targeted for holding the post of chairperson of NAC, she herself decided to resign as Lok Sabha member and go for a fresh public verdict. Coming of age as a politician, Gandhi's speech was an admix of aggression and emotion, and appeared to pull at the heart strings of masses. "I decided to once again go to polls and get your verdict. I know you people understand the Opposition's politics of targeting at me on every issue. Immediately after joining active politics, I realised that it was not so easy a field, but I made up my mind to work for public welfare." Sonia's 20-minute long speech was interrupted several times due to slogans "Soniaji tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhere saath hain." (Continue the Struggle Sonia, we are with you)

    Upon her arrival here, Sonia was greeted by her supporters and party activists. She also waved to her supporters from her vehicle as they showered her with flower petals. Earlier, when Sonia arrived at the Amausi airport in Lucknow, on her way to her constituency Rae Bareli, she was received by Union Ministers Prakash Jaiswal and Akhilesh Das, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Salman Khursheed, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and various other senior party leaders. The National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the labour wing of the Congress also welcomed the Congress chief. Unlike previous occasions, she stopped at several points from the airport to the outskirts of Lucknow and accepted greetings of the people. People crowded the entire four-kilometre stretch from the Amausi airport to Bangla Bazar crossing on the outskirts of the city. People almost jammed the way to have mere glimpse of Sonia Gandhi. Her cavalcade was forced to stop at several places as groups of people offered her bouquets and garlands and showered her with flower petals. The bands played popular numbers. Women and school children also thronged the way to greet her. They were seen carrying the party flags and shouted slogans like, 'Sonia tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain' (keep on your battle Sonia we are with you) and 'tyag aur tapasya ki devi Sonia' (the symbol of sacrifice). Security personnel had to try hard to calm the impatient crowd from the airport to Ambedkar Park. Passengers on the airport, however, faced problems as the party workers had started gathering at the airport since morning to welcome her leader.

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