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Sonia blames AGP for Assam situation

Defying the United Liberation Front of Asom ban, Sonia Gandhi addressed a well-attended rally in Assam's Nagaon on Friday. She launched a frontal attack on the Asom Gana Parishad, holding the party fully responsible for the escalation of violence in the state.

She was accompanied by son Rahul, who was making his first public appearance in Assam.

Sonia said her husband Rajiv Gandhi was instrumental in signing the Assam accord 13 years ago.

"He knew the accord could cost the party in power, but he still went ahead with it", Sonia said adding that the AGP was largely responsible for bringing in hatred and violence.

Notably, she is the first national leader to visit the state on an election campaign after the ULFA warned politicians, who visited Assam, that they would pay a price for their defiance.

"The AGP came to power only after the Assam accord. But the hopes and aspirations of the populace were destroyed. There has not been any economic development during its rule," Sonia said.

She, however, said the position of the state was not peculiar. In fact, it was a common phenomenon in almost every part of the country (where the Congress was not in power). She urged the people to support the Congress for stability as the 'country could be saved only by the Congress'.

Sonia criticised the United Front government for taking India backwards. The Front, she alleged, had failed on all fronts.

It was the Congress in its four-decade long rule which took the country to the path of development and progress. There were six non-Congress governments and seven prime ministers but none could achieve anything, she said.

Making an indirect reference to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sonia said: "Some political parties are trying to exploit religious sentiments to gain political milage and come to power."

Her 10-minute speech also touched upon Rajiv's contribution towards the women and youth. She called upon both to support the Congress at the hustings.

UNI

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