Sonia dares BJP, warns Vajpayee

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today challenged the BJP’s claims on national development and warned Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and h...

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today challenged the BJP’s claims on national development and warned Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and his party against raking up the Bofors issue. The NDA government had only hindered the process of development, she said, while campaigning at Mangaldoi in Assam.

‘‘What great contributions are Vajpayee and his BJP talking about? Farmers have been compelled to commit suicide, unemployed have remained unemployed, insurgency has remained unsolved,’’ Sonia told a 5,000-odd crowd while campaigning for party candidate Madhab Rajbangshi.

She asked Vajpayee to stop criticising the Congress, particularly on the Bofors issue. ‘‘Vajpayee’s claims are not true. Had Rajiv Gandhi become prime minister in 1991, India would have reached great heights,’’ she claimed.

‘‘When we point out their wrongs, they attack us with baseless questions on issues that have been settled. Why should I keep responding to questions on Bofors when the court has already given a clean chit to Rajiv Gandhi? Vajpayee should reply to the Tehelka tapes, Judeo, Telecom scandal and the Gujarat violence first,’’ she said. She said false allegations do not raise one’s esteem.

Men who opened fire outside actor Disha Patani’s home killed in encounter in Ghaziabad

Cities1 hr ago

Two men belonging to the Rohit Godara-Goldy Brar Gang were killed in an encounter in Ghaziabad, suspected to be involved in the firing outside Disha Patani's residence. The duo, identified as Ravindra and Arun, were wanted in multiple cases and were spotted by the police through CCTV footage. UP CM Yogi Adityanath had directed for a speedy investigation and strict action against the perpetrators.

View all shorts

Live Blog