Following is the text of the speech of newly elected Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi at the Central Hall of Parliament:
Friends,
You have honoured me by reposing your trust and faith in me. I feel deeply humbled, I feel greatly privileged.
I stand here today, in the space once occupied by my greatest teachers -- Panditji, Indiraji and Rajivji. Their lives have guided me throughout my journey. Their courage and complete devotion to India has given me the strength to continue on their path even years after their martyrdom.
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We will soon finalise a joint plan of action with them. This plan will outline our priorities, policies and programmes as one cohesive unit.
The commitment to provide a strong and stable government dedicated to promoting social harmony and peace unites all of us in the coalition. The commitment to provide a firm, resolute government devoted to the welfare of the kisans and khet mazdoors, of youth and women, of weaker sections of society unites us all in the coalition.
The commitment to provide a purposeful, effective government focused on accelerating employment, growth and investment unites all of us in the coalition. We have an enormous task ahead of us. The road is wrought with difficulties, the challenges are vast.
Let us not be complacent.
Our party organisation has to be infused with new energy and drive. In many states we have not performed as we should have. There is now a momentum generated by our revival -- let us not squander it. We must utilise it as a catalyst for change and progress within our own organisation.
Let us build a new future defined by hard work and resolve.
I know that you have all worked tremendously hard in the last few months.
I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to each one of you and express to you, my heartfelt gratitude.
I am glad to see a number of young men and women who have joined the House today. A special word of greeting to them and a special thought for all those who fought hard but could not make it.
We have succeeded against all odds. We have prevailed despite all predictions of disaster. It has been a team effort, a collective enterprise.
We can take legitimate pride in our accomplishment as we prepare ourselves for the task of governance in the days ahead.
On behalf of all of you, I thank the people of India from my heart.
Thank You.