The Congress-led UPA government has been taking outside support from Left parties not to remain in power at the Centre, but to serve the nation on the basis of its Common Minimum Programme, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Thursday.
"It is true that the Congress-led UPA government is taking help from Left parties, but it is not being done to retain the chair. It is being done in the interest of the nation. It is being done on the basis of the CMP," Gandhi said at an election rally in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.
Pointing out that although the CMP was in the interest of all sections of society, Gandhi said that emphasis was more on ameliorating the condition of the poor, the dalits and women.
"It is because of this that the UPA government has introduced the National Rural Employment Generation Programme. Many districts of West Bengal will benefit from it. Subsequently, it will be extended to the entire country," she said.
Similarly, the UPA government has also enacted a law to protect women from domestic and social problems, Gandhi said adding that for the first time, UPA has set up a separate ministry for minorities. Union Defence Minister and WBPCC chief Pranab Mukherjee and other party functionaries were also present on the occasion.
Lambasting the Left Front government in the state, Gandhi said that 65,000 factories had closed down during its rule, rendering more than seven lakh persons jobless.
"In this election, people should ask what benefits they have received during the Left regime. They must ask why workers are committing suicide. Why are lakhs of youth still unemployed," she said.
Describing the Congress as a party committed to nation-building, Gandhi said that 'in the UPA regime, all demands of the West Bengal government have been met, especially in the areas of education, power, village and urban development'.
Stating that elections had given people the responsibility to state their verdict on social and economic issues, Gandhi urged people to support candidates of Congress and its allies in the state and strengthen the party.
In his speech, WBPCC president Pranab Mukherjee squarely blamed Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for the failure of the 'mahajot' (grand alliance), stating that it could not materialise because of her refusal to leave the National Democratic Alliance.
"When I told Mamata Banerjee to leave the NDA and ally with us, she said there was no NDA in West Bengal. I humbly reminded her that she was an MP of NDA and during voting in Parliament on various issues, she voted for the NDA," he said.
Complete coverage: West Bengal Assembly elections
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