Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday called the communal agenda endorsed by political opponents as a “grave threat” to the nation’s integrity and said the Congress was the only party that could ensure a unified India.

She was speaking at an election meeting organised in Thrissur for three party candidates seeking mandate from the district. “We believe in an India that unites our people while our opponents seek to divide the nation. We are trying to ensure that our democratic institutions remain strong while the opposition is promoting a one-man rule,” she said.
The UPA chairperson said the choice was between a government that embodies hope and one that promotes fear.

The Congress president highlighted “unprecedented economic growth” under the UPA regime over the past 10 years and said the growth had also translated to financial assistance to many states, including Kerala. She countered the BJP’s charges of corruption and said the Congress had taken corrective action against corruption “at every instance”.

She also took on the Congress’ opponents in the state — the Left parties, by questioning the relevance of their ideologies and slamming the culture of political violence. “In Kerala, we are fighting a battle against our principal opponents who are prisoners of an ideology that has no relevance in today’s world,” she said.

Sonia addressed the gathering in Thrissur in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V M Sudheeran and the three party candidates from the district: AICC spokesperson P C Chacko (Chalakudy), K P Dhanapalan (Thrissur) and K A Sheeba (Alathur).