RAHAMA (JAGATSINGHPUR, ORISSA), SEPT 28: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday pledged to save the country from the "clutches of communal elements'' who had become "very active'' during the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance."Come what may, I am determined to save the country from the clutches of communal elements,'' she asserted.Gandhi alleged that "communal elements and criminals" had become very active in the country during the rule of the BJP-led alliance, which had to be challenged.During the last 18 months, the BJP-led Government had given enough indication that it was incapable of providing stability or improving the lot of the poor, she told a well-attended election meeting here.She said that a stable government led by her party could tackle the twin problems of poverty and unemployment facing the country.The Congress, if voted to power, would set up a commission for development of tribals and backward classes at the national level, she said.Accusing the BJP-led government of running the country in "a whimsical manner", the AICC chief said, "They are after me because I challenged them.''Earlier, addressing a poll meeting at Nayagarh, Gandhi ridiculed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) claim that it could provide a stable government saying the 24 parties under it had no common ideology.They have come together for power, she said, adding it was difficult to believe that the 24 parties could remain a cohesive force and provide stability when 18 parties could not do so in the past.Gandhi, who was accompanied by son Rahul, told the gathering at Rahama that she was well aware of the problems of Orissa and that of Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituency which, despite its proximity to the Paradip Port, had not been industrialised as yet.Referring to the needs of Orissa, Gandhi said the State was languishing in poverty despite its abundant resources and the tide could be turned only if the State was provided with special assistance by the Centre.There will be flow of assistance from the Centre only if a Congress government was installed in Delhi and the State's economy will improve, she said.The BJP-led Government had neglected Orissa during its rule, she alleged, adding only a Congress government would accord top priority for development of the backward classes, Dalits and tribals.
