Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje/Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MM)

Mangalore, May 13: The visit of Indian National Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, May 13 created immense excitement among the Congress leaders and party workers. Moreover, Sonia Gandhi assured the citizens of declaring new projects for the coastal region so that it could generate more employment opportunities to youth of the area.

Construction of the  40,000-crore ONGC project has already begun in the city. Moreover, the city will be developed as an Information Technology (IT) hub, she assured. The coastal region has developed in educational and healthcare sectors considerably. The policies of Congress party have also been largely responsible towards this growth, she added.

Stable government

Speaking about the political requirements in the state, she said that except Congress, no political party has been successful in ruling the state for a full term of five years. Therefore, Congress is the need of the hour for the state, she opined.

'Some political parties are engaged in creating hatred and practicing discrimination among the people. Some other parties are opportunistic in nature and will either catch or let go of anyone’s hand at anytime to assume power. But Congress has always thought of all classes of people, worked for the overall development of the country without any discrimination, she said.

Development was totally sidelined in the state owing to corruption practiced by JD (S)-BJP coalition government which was at the helm for 20 months. Therefore, Congress should be brought back to power for developmental works to be carried out in the state, the way UPA is doing at the national-level, she urged.

UPA has done revolutionary work and enacted many landmark Acts in the last four years. BJP has never done anything for the victims of riots or other backward class people in the country. They cannot confront Congress on any issue, she challenged.

Huge Crowd

Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the city was successful in attracting huge crowds to Nehru Maidan where the programme was held. A large number of people were waiting along the road till Hampankatta to see her. Sonia did not disappoint as she waived her hand to them while passing by in an open car. She did not forget to shake hands with Congress activists who were in the front row at Nehru Maidan. Though she reached the city at about 3 pm, the start of the function was delayed for about an hour.