Sonia says organisational failure cause of defeat

Terming the party's performance in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls as "very disappointing", Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday blamed it on organisational failure and asked partymen to gear up for assembly polls in Gujarat and Goa.

She referred to the results of the Uttar Pradesh elections and said that "...communal forces had been dealt a severe blow." Referring to the defeat of Mulayam Singh Yadav's government, Sonia said that the party "...whose leadership governance had completely collapsed has been unseated."

She admitted that congress party was not able to transform the goodwill the party had generated during last few months into votes. "Our performance  has been very disappointing. We now face a stupendous challenge, a challenge that we accept and that we will meet with hard work and determination. I do take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and hard work put in by each and every member at all levels throughout the campaign", she said.

In her three and a half page speech she did not mention the name of Rahul Gandhi who had led the party campaign in Uttar Pradesh.

She listed a number of achievements of the UPA government in many spheres of life particularly those "stregthening our secular fabric." She declared that the stand of the congress party on SEZ was clear that that the land aquisition for SEZ must be done in a transparent manner.

She launched a frontal attack on the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for allowing its police officials to kill innocent people in fake encounters. "The nation is witnessing shocking revelations on the manner in which sections of the Gujarat police have been allowed to kill innocent people in the garb of fighting terrorism. It is apparent that these sections enjoy high-level patronage," she said. She alleged that Modi government gave human rights issue a communal colour.

Referring to the forthcoming assembly elections in Gujarat she said that this would raise communal tensions and passions. "We did well in 2004 Lok Sabha elections. This gives us both hope and confidence that the people of the state which gave birth to the Father of the Nation will vote for stregthening Gujarat's traditions of secular and social harmony," she reminded the congress parliamentarians.

Talking about the frequent Parliamentary disruptions, she said, "This session has been productive in some respects but it has also been far too many disruptions. Instead of debate and discussions, the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance allies have preferred agitation within the House, often in the well itself. I am sure that I will be voicing your sentiments when I say that this is indeed a matter of great regret," she said.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and former Union Minister Dr Karan Singh were mentioned by name by Sonia during her speech.

She also reminded the congressmen of the celebrations of historic event of 1857 as the first War of Independence. She asked them to take the spirit of 1857 back to their constituencies so the younger generation could be educated about our grand past.

(With PTI Inputs)