The Hindu : Show commitment to women, Sonia urges partymen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 30, 2003

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Show commitment to women, Sonia urges partymen

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 29. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, today asked partymen to mobilise themselves against the BJP and its allies by holding demonstrations and rallies from the block to the State level.

In her concluding remarks at the two-day convention of block presidents, the Congress president suggested regular training programmes at the district level and workers' meetings at the block and State level. She urged partymen to protect women, SCs/STs and minorities from harassment. She wanted State governments led by the Congress to show commitment to women by honouring atleast one woman every year for a significant achievement. She suggested that the award be named after Indira Gandhi and be called the "Priyadarshini award.''

Responding to complaints from the block presidents of being neglected by the State Government, she said "Governments are of the party, parties do not belong to the Government''. Ms. Gandhi said Congress-ruled States would have to involve party workers in the decision-making process. MPs and MLAs were asked to involve party workers in the development work in their constituencies. She said "everybody cannot be given a party ticket, but those in power must give the workers utmost respect.'' She urged the Ministers to regularly visit party offices while on tour. Earlier the former UPCC chief, Salman Khursheed, emphasising the values and traditions of the Congress, said that the first party to make a Dalit and Muslim head of the State was the Congress. Initiating the discussion on farmers and agriculture, the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Balram Jakhar, criticised the Budget for neglecting farmers.

He questioned the Government's policy of taxing the poor farmer to benefit the rich and assailed the attempts to dismantle the subsidy system.

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