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Sonia promises reservations in promotions, investment in agriculture and a railway line

Congress President Sonia Gandhi today promised to bring in separate legislation for strict implementation of reservation for dalits, adivasis and other backward classes if the Congress was voted to power at the Centre.

Addressing a well-attended public meeting in Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, she said the Congress was committed to setting up a special statutory commission for scheduled castes. There was a need for providing reservation in promotions to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and backward class employees, she said.

Promising to better the lot of the farmers, Sonia Gandhi said public investments in the agricultural sector would be increased and the flow of credit to small and marginal farmers doubled. The Congress would also introduce a crop insurance scheme for farmers living in vulnerable areas, she said. The Congress president alleged that the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party was steeped in corruption.

The National Democratic Alliance, led by the BJP and comprising 24 parties, would not take India anywhere, when the 18-party ruling coalition could not do much, she said.

Sonia Gandhi said the people were fed up with communal forces and were yearning for a positive change in the country. The Congress alone could provide a stable and good governance and ensure that every citizen had his due, she said.

She accused the ruling Telugu Desam Party in the state of joining up with the BJP due to its lust for power. Sonia Gandhi said the Congress had a special place among the people of Andhra Pradesh and recalled how her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, was supported by the people of the state. She promised that special attention would be paid to the development of Khammam district.

The Srisailam and Sriramsagar projects would be expedited and a railway line between Bhadrachalam and Rajamundry would be introduced, she said.

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