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Sonia supports government on Kargil

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today lauded the steps taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government against the Pakistani intrusion in the Kargil sector of Jammu & Kashmir and said the country would speak in "one voice" at this crucial juncture.

Addressing a public rally in Gangtok on her maiden visit to Sikkim, Gandhi said: "Being the main opposition, we have to play a constructive role, in spite of having several questions for the BJP government on the Kargil intrusion. We will speak in one voice at this juncture. Questions can be asked later."

Showering tributes on the martyrs of Kargil, she said, "The entire country is with our brave soldiers fighting to push back the Pakistan-backed intruders. All martyrs will be remembered for their ultimate sacrifice. We will give a fitting reply to any Pakistani designs."

Turning to the national political scenario in her 24-minute speech in Hindi, she said, "In the past four years the country has seen two elections and had four governments with three prime ministers. The strain has stunted the development of the country and ruined it financially."

Calling on the people to vote for a stable government, which "only the Congress can provide", Gandhi said, "We are ready to defend our country at all costs. Security of the nation is our top priority."

Holding successive regional governments responsible for Sikkim's lack of development, she said, "Only a Congress government will be able to look at the state's peculiar problems from close quarters."

The Congress believes in giving the people power through Panchayati Raj institutions, she said.

She also promised that the state's special constitutional provisions under Article 371(F) would be fully protected.

UNI

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