Sonia attacks Modi, questions him on poll promises

Taking on Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi today accused him of trying to "show off" as if everything has been done only after his government came to power and asked the Prime Minister what happened to his promise of bringing back the black money stashed abroad.

"They are creating such an atmosphere as if nothing has happened in the country since Independence and they will change everyone's fortunes overnight. Have any steps been taken to fulfil the promises made during the Lok Sabha elections.

"Has inflation come down? Is the poor man getting food at cheaper rate? Have the unemployed got jobs?

"What happened to their promise of getting back the black money from abroad within 100 days of coming to power. Have any steps been taken in this regard? Absolutely not," Gandhi said in a blistering attack on Modi at a rally here, hours after he urged voters in Haryana to oust the Congress, targeting it over alleged land scams and "anti-farmer" policies.

In a swipe at Modi, she said, "empty vessels make the most noise. Being loud doesn't mean you are speaking truth."

"A country is not built in a day's time. For the development of a nation it takes years of hard work, the right intention and the willingness to sacrifice. But today BJP is trying to show off as if all things are happening only after they came to power, that everything is happening for the first time," the Congress President said.

Gandhi today launched Congress' election campaign for October 15 polls in Haryana, where it is locked in a contest with BJP and INLD among others.

Gandhi, who sought votes for the Congress on the basis of development work done during the last ten years, charged BJP with taking credit for policies framed by previous UPA government.

He asked the people not to get swayed by emotions and false promises and vote wisely to bring back the Congress to power in Haryana for accelerated development.
"At the time of the elections, I urge you to take a decision after listening to your brain and not your heart. People may try to whip up sentiments, make false promises to you, beware of them," she said.

Accusing BJP government of hijacking UPA's schemes, Gandhi said, "They enjoy taking credit for work done by others. When UPA was in power, they criticised our policies and made fun of them... but now they are implementing our policies after changing their names, but Congress is not one of those parties which take credit of work done by others."

She cautioned voters against being swayed by parties who split before elections only to join hands later to gain power.

"Today those who are seeking your vote by projecting themselves as separate and are fighting polls independently, they will again shake hands once the polls end for the sake of power. They too are not good," she said.

Notably, BJP and Haryana Janhit Congress separated recently while the saffron party had earlier snapped ties with INLD. BJP, however, has made it clear that it will not have any post-poll alliance with the Om Prakash Chautala led INLD.

"Do not be swayed by such people. Do not fall in their trap," she said.
Gandhi said under the Congress government headed by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda the state had scaled new heights of development.

Targeting main opposition INLD, Sonia Gandhi alleged that ten years back, there was an atmosphere of terror and anarchy.

"We developed Haryana. We undertook development in various fields including agriculture, health, industry, transport.... Farmers were given adequate water and power," she said, adding that  Metro rail connectivity will be provided to cities like Bahadurgarh, Kundli, Sonepat and Panipat.

She said that an AIIMS, a cancer hospital, defence and women's universities are being developed.

She claimed other parties lacked vision for Haryana's development.
"Those who spread terror, indulge in ransom, caste based politics and have never done anything else, they cannot carry out development," she said, adding they are showing "false dreams to the people".