Centre firm to implement Accord: Sonia

By A Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, June 13 – Asserting that the Centre was committed to implementing the Assam Accord in its all aspects, Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today and said that farmers’ interests and rural development were two key areas of focus of the UPA Government. Addressing a ‘State-level Kisan Rally’ (farmers’ rally) at the Khanapara Veterinary College playground in the city, Gandhi said that the Congress had all along been striving for development of the State and that it was duty-bound to implement the Assam Accord. “We are committed to implementing the Assam Accord in its different aspects – be it development or checking infiltration,” she said. Gandhi said that modernization of agriculture had been a top priority for the UPA Government and that more funds would be pumped in to boost the sector. Terming the Rs 70,000-crore loan waiver for farmers of the country as a landmark move, she said that the BJP-led NDA Government had done nothing for the farmers. Reiterating its commitment to protect the State from flood and erosion, the Congress president said that the recommendations of the flood task force were being implemented to check the menace. Claiming that the UPA Government was successful in arresting a possible steeper hike in oil prices, Gandhi said that fuel prices in India were still much lower than in its neighbouring countries. “While the BJP was in power, oil price in the international market was Rs 30-40 a barrel which is now Rs 130-140 a barrel. The recent hike, therefore, was inevitable but is still comparatively low considering the unprecedented hike in the international market,” she reasoned. In a veiled reference to the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal, Gandhi said that the changing circumstances made it imperative that prospects of nuclear energy were explored to meet growing power needs. “Nuclear energy has gained much importance in view of the steep rise in global oil prices,” she said.Gandhi had a word of praise for the self-help group (SHG) movement in the State, saying that with 80 per cent woman participation, the nearly 1.5 lakh SHGs of Assam were giving a fillip to woman entrepreneurship in villages. Gandhi further said that the ambitious Bharat Nirman project would change the face of the villages in terms of infrastructure and amenities. Gandhi also said that the Centre accorded priority to the development of minority communities and had set up a special ministry for them. Earlier, the UPA chairperson recalled the sacrifices of the farming community in India’s freedom struggle, and dwelt specifically on the farmers’ revolts of Assam at Patharughat and Phulaguri. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Veerappa Moily, Union Ministers Santosh Mohan Dev and Bijoy Krishna Handique, senior leader Margaret Alva and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhubaneswar Kalita were present at the dais. Earlier, Sonaram Bardoloi and Deepali Senapati, two model farmers, felicitated Sonia Gandhi. Source: assam tribune