Sonia Gandhi’s intervention: Uttarakhand govt to stop Corbett land grab

Frequent interventions by Congress president Sonia Gandhi have made the Uttarakhand government crack the whip on 'encroachers' in Corbett Tiger Reserve.

The state government has banned any kind of land transaction within a radius of 2 km from the reserve boundary. Sonia was apprised of this decision through a letter dated January 4, 2013 by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. reports about land encroachment along the periphery of the national park, especially around the Ramganga river, prompted Sonia, who is also the chairman of the National Board for Wildlife, to take up the matter with the Prime Minister.

In a letter dated May 11, 2012, Sonia Gandhi demanded that allegations made in new reports be probed. "The peripheral forestland are being encroached upon and tourism-related infrastructure is posing a threat to the wildlife in the reserve. I request you to have the matter urgently examined so that appropriate measures may be undertaken to preserve the ecological integrity of the reserve," the letter stated.

The Environment and Forest Ministry quickly constituted a two-member committee to probe the matter. On June 5, the committee submitted a report seeking a probe against activities of four people - former BJP president Nitin Gadkari, former MP Akbar Ahmed Dumpy, former forest minister Nav Prabhat and Leisure Hotels managing director Mukund Prasad. The panel recommended immediate halt on all revenue land transactions in buffer areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve till a high-level probe is completed by the state government. The report stated: "A departmental inquiry should be conducted in the alleged collusion of officials to facilitate private hoteliers and lodge owners and MoU by the state with private angling associations in the buffer area must be terminated."

Sonia Gandhi sent the findings to Bahuguna on June 12. She wrote: "You are requested to look into the matter personally as the issue is of serious nature." Bahuguna ordered a vigilance inquiry and immediately reverted to Sonia through a letter dated July 14, apprising her of the interim measures he had taken.

At 'Chintan Shivir', Sonia Gandhi warns young Congressmen on lavish lifestyle

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has set the tone of discussion for Congress’ Chintan Shivir that began in Jaipur on Friday. As the party readies for the 2014 elections, Sonia Gandhi urged the Congress workers to take stock of party’s strengths, weaknesses and threats and warned that the middle-class, with which the party hopes to reconnect, is fed up with corruption that they face in their daily lives.

"This is a phenomenon, a churning that we must understand and continue to respond to. We cannot allow our growing educated and middle classes to be disillusioned and alienated from the political process," said Sonia Gandhi. She also pointed out that people were now better informed and equipped than ever before and that their expectation from their government had also grown. She reminded the younger Congressmen and women, a big chunk of the 350 people invited, to be austere. An extravagant show of money, she said, would lead to the question - where does the wealth come from?

In her address, Sonia Gandhi talked about the Congress' nine years of rule at the Centre and what it had gained and lost in that time. She touched upon coalition politics, Indo-Pak relations, gender issues and crime against women and corruption, and exhorted those gathered to "speak your mind - as we are here on business that will determine our future".

 That is an immediate future, with General Elections due next year. "There is increased competition and inroads have been made in our traditional strongholds. We have to strike a fine balance between respecting alliances and ensuring rejuvenation of the party," Mrs Gandhi said, adding: "We are the only pan Indian party with a visible and viable position in every village. We articulate the concerns of all, especially the weaker sections of the society. Inclusiveness is anchored in our conviction, not the outcome of compulsion as it may be for our opponents."

The Congress hopes to emerge from the two-day-long session armed with strategy on, among other things, how to address an alienation from the middle class, seen most recently when the government it leads was found grossly inadequate in its response to spontaneous protests after the brutal gang-rape and torture of a 23-year-old medical student in a moving bus in Delhi last month.

Sonia Gandhi said, "Discrimination against the girl child and atrocities against women are a blot on our collective conscience. Sexual harassment, women trafficking and female foeticide should shake us and awaken us...Gender issues are fundamental and the entire party must bring this to the heart of political activity and change mindsets."

At a meeting on women's issues that she attended with son Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi said gender sensitivity should begin at home.

Sonia Gandhi: Development means providing electricity, water, education and proper health

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while addressing a rally of Congress workers and supporters in Uttarakhand had said that the BJP had been betraying the people in the name of progress. Sonia Gandhi also said that the natural treasures of Uttarakhand are being looted and the only way to prevent is dethrone BJP from power. The Congress President pointed out that no miracle is going to take place by merely changing the Chief Minister.

Sonia Gandhi said “I feel sad that some people in Uttarakhand loot the natural treasures of this state in the name of development.  We should know that development does not mean selling out the precious lands in the beautiful hill stations. Development means proper electricity, education, ensure health to all sections of the society. Development means protecting the rights of the people and the welfare of poor, farmers, downtrodden, minorities, backwards, women, dalits and adivasis”. 

This article is posted by pressbrief.in

Sonia Gandhi: India can move forward only on secular and democratic foundations

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that India can move forward only on secular and democratic foundations. “Congress position is very clear. Our struggle is for a secular, democratic nation. India can move forward only on these foundations,” said Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi maintained that India would be able to stand up against all odds only if there was communal harmony.

Sonia Gandhi was circumspect when asked about the Left, saying a decision on whether to join hands with them again is not in the Agenda of Congress as of now. The Prime Minister pointed out that while the world wanted India to move ahead as a nuclear state, the Left wanted it to move backwards. Significantly, Sonia Gandhi used the occasion to reiterate her and the party’s support for Singh. “My position is the same, my position is not going to change,” Sonia Gandhi asserted.

She added that Singh would complete the full term. Singh responded by saying that it had been his “proud privilege” to serve as PM of the UPA government. PM expressed deep gratitude towards Mrs Sonia Gandhi and leaders of the Congress party for reposing faith in him.

 

This article is posted by pressbrief.in