Aizawl: UPA chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Friday launched four projects in the Congress-ruled Mizoram, ahead of the state assembly polls slated for November end.
Besides announcing the Food Security Bill, the National Advisory Council chairperson laid a foundation stone for a Sainik School to be constructed at Chhingchhip village in Serchhip district, and launched the fourth phase of the ongoing state government’s flagship programme New Land Use Policy and the 210 MW Tuivai hydro project in a public rally at Rajiv Gandhi Sports Stadium at Mualpui here.
Sonai Gandhi said the the Food Security Scheme would cater to the needs of lakhs of poor people in the country.
The scheme would ensure that lakhs of malnourished and hungry people would now be able to avail food at an extremely low price in the country, Gandhi told the public rally.
Sonia lauded the Lal Thanhawla-led Congress government for fulfilling its pre-poll promises of unprecedented progress and corruption-free government. “Your concern would be pursued and your voices heard,” she said.
“Five years ago, the people of Mizoram gave a mandate to Congress to bring about better development and corruption free government. I believe that mandate has been fulfilled,” she said.
“No one can point accusing finger to the government with regards to corruption.”
She also praised the state’s flagship policy NLUP has fulfilled its mission of elevating the poor, thereby increasing the state’s GDP to a great extent.
Describing Mizoram as a model for the rest of the country for maintaining peace and tranquility for “more than a quarter of a century”, Sonia could not help but recall the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s efforts in ushering in permanent peace in the state.
Saying that Congress party and Mizoram are closely related and the “beautiful state” has a “special place” in her heart, the Congress president appealed the people of Mizoram another mandate to fulfill the greater tasks that lay ahead.
She promised to continue to give special attention to Mizoram is her party is re-elected in the forthcoming polls.
Sonia, who landed at Lengpui Airport and was flown by helicopter to the venue, was accompanied by Union I&B minister Ambika Soni and AICC general secretary in charge of Mizoram Luizinho Faleiro. She flew back to Delhi after the hugely attended public rally.
Meanwhile, young members of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) wore ‘Puandum’ (black shawls) to register their protest alleging that central leaders visited the state only during election campaigns and not in trying times. (PTI with input from agencies)