Sonia Gandhi pays tribute to Indira Gandhi

Nation remembers former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 29th death anniversary. Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi paid tributes to the departed leader at Shakti Sthal.

Sonia Gandhi speaks at the inaugural function of National Media Centre in New Delhi

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday inaugurated the National Media Centre. While addressing the gathering Sonia Gandhi, who is also the Congress President, said that media need not be the enemy of the government and also said that the government welcome all criticism. In her address Sonia Gandhi asserted “Media and the government often disagree. The editorial columns and the voices of the prime time news provide ample evidence for this. But I venture to say that this can be healthy and there need not be any antagonism between the two”.

Sonia Gandhi: Media need not be Government’s enemy; we welcome all criticism

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday inaugurated the National Media Centre. While addressing the gathering after the inauguration of the centre, Sonia Gandhi, who is also the Congress President, said that media need not be the enemy of the government and also said that the government welcome all criticism.

In her address Sonia Gandhi asserted “Media and the government often disagree. The editorial columns and the voices of the prime time news provide ample evidence for this.  But I venture to say that this can be healthy and there need not be any antagonism between the two”.

Sonia Gandhi also said that well-intentioned criticism of the policies of the government by the media was welcome, as the media played an important watchdog function. “We welcome the watchdog role of the media and well founded and well intentioned criticism of our policies and programmes. We recognise that there could be shortcoming that needs to be highlighted” said the Congress President.
”Our media has evolved over the years into a vibrant and matured institution that cherishes its freedom and independence and exercise it with a commendable responsibility at least most of the time. Its sheer diversity ensures that on balance it functions to benefit the institutions of democracy and democratic foundations of our society” she added.

The National Media Centre, located at 7-E, Raisina Road, is spread over a 1.95 acre plot on Raisina road here and equipped with latest technologies of information dissemination. It will have offices of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as well as special facilities for media. The Centre has been constructed by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) at a cost of Rs 60 crore over a period of three years with a total covered area of 13,867 sqm. The plot size is 7787.46 sqm (1.95 acres).

It has a press conference hall for 283 media persons, a briefing room for about 60 persons, 24 work stations for journalists, a library, media lounge and cafeteria. The press conference hall and media lounge are wi-fi enabled. Among the facilities provided at the centre are optic fibre Internet backbone with redundancy, mini data centre for application development and hosting webcast, including live webcast, Video feed to TV channels, IT facilities to media persons in work area and lounge, Internet telephony and AV Video Wall. The world class media centre will have two basements, a ground floor and four floors above it.

The Centre was initially conceptualised by the PIB in 1989 to facilitate greater interaction between the government and the media with a state-of- the-art equipped media centre.

Text of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi’s speech

Sonia Gandhi extends warm greetings on Eid-al-Fitr

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday greeted the nation on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr by saying that the festival reminds people of virtues of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect for each other's faith.

Conveying her greetings and good wishes, Sonia Gandhi said Eid follows a month of fasting in which the essentials of faith are rejuvenated touching Islam's message of peace and fraternity amongst all mankind.

“‘Eid’ follows a month of fasting in which the essentials of faith are rejuvenated touching Islam’s message of peace and fraternity amongst all mankind. The festival reminds us of the virtues of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect for each other’s faith in a multi religious and diversified society like ours” says her message.

President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also greeted the nation on the occasion and hoped the festival will instill a sense of unity among all faiths and pride in the composite culture of country.

Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi conduct aerial survey of flood-hit Uttarakhand

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alongwith Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi undertook an aerial survey of the flood affected areas of Uttarakahand to assess the damage. The Prime minister also announced Rs.1,000 crore for disaster relief measures in flood-devastated parts of Uttarakhand where 102 persons have been killed and thousands left stranded at various places.

PM, Sonia Gandhi conduct aerial survey of flood-hit U'khand; Rs. 1,000 cr relief announced

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alongwith Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi undertook an aerial survey of the flood affected areas of Uttarakahand to assess the damage. The Prime minister also announced Rs.1,000 crore for disaster relief measures in flood-devastated parts of Uttarakhand where 102 persons have been killed and thousands left stranded at various places.

Sonia Gandhi at UPA-II, 4th anniversary function

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My greetings to you all on the fourth anniversary of UPA-2 . This is an appropriate moment to celebrate. It is also an appropriate moment to reflect on what we have sought to do during this past nine years. Our focus has never been in doubt and we have never deviated from our priorities. To strengthen our secular ethos, to address the needs of our people especially the weaker section , whether they are women or minority, schedule caste or schedule tribes or backwards. To pay special attention to farmers and workers and to strive for a growing dynamic economy that is both just and inclusive. You all are familiar with our major initiatives and there have indeed been many, as the Prime Minister has just explained to us. So can anyone question the magnitude of the changes we have been able to bring about. All states across party lines have received unprecedented assistance from our government for development programmes and schemes. Governance is now subject to strict transparency and accountability as a result of the laws that we have put in place. The weaker section of society, the dalits , adivasis, OBCs , minorities, women have been further empowered to a number of new and very effective initiatives. Never before have procurement prices for farmers being increased as they have in the last nine years. And this has led to a record production of food grains. Never before have so many of our children been in schools and colleges aspiring for better future. The nation is closely connected today through the expansion of rural roads and through mobile telephone network which is the second largest in the world with the cheapest call rates. The world is going through a financial crisis yet our government has been able to navigate these turbulent times with confidence. And has shown resilience. As the PM has said we see the making of economic recovery.