Forget ‘sedition’, Sonia pegs her Best on bakery

Hours after Defence Minister George Fernandes, speaking in Bhopal, reportedly threatened ‘‘that woman’’ with sedition if...

Hours after Defence Minister George Fernandes, speaking in Bhopal, reportedly threatened ‘‘that woman’’ with sedition if she does not keep her mouth shut, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi launched another attack on the BJP and its allies over the Gujarat violence, alleging that the NDA has weakened national security.

Charging the BJP with spreading violence and hatred in the country, Sonia said the Supreme Court judgment on the Best Bakery case had vindicated her party’s stand.

Inquiry ordered into Zaheera allegations
Vadodara: Gujarat DGP has asked Vadodara police to carry out a detailed investigation into Zaheera Sheikh’s allegation that she and other witnesses from her family had turned hostile during Best Bakery trial under threat. The investigation would be carried out by Joint Commissioner of Police K. Kumarswamy. Kumarswamy, when contacted, said he was looking into all aspects of the allegations, but refused to divulge any details. —ENS

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Speaking at a Mahila Congress function here on women empowerment, Sonia said: ‘‘Such abominable crimes took place in Gujarat… Barbaric events like that at the Best Bakery are a stain on humanity. The Congress has raised this issue time and again and now the apex court has taken the same decision. This has vindicated our stand. Is there any room for doubt?’’

Calling upon women to come together if they wish to be empowered, Sonia said women are the worst sufferers of any calamity and ‘‘even in the face of an economic calamity, women are the worst hit. The BJP at the Centre is also such a calamity that it has lead to rise in unemployment and poverty. It has lead to the growth of communal tensions and has resulted in the weakening of national security.’’

Only women, members of various self-help groups (SHGs) in the region, were invited for the programme here today. The large numbers of such SHGs that have cropped over the past few years in the state are expected to act as a grassroots cadre for the Congress in these polls. The BJP has planned a similar function at Indore, to be addressed by Prime Minister Vajpayee, at the culmination of Uma Bharti’s rath yatra in October.

Earlier in the day, Sonia laid the foundation stone for a thermal power plant in Birsinghpur.

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