Sonia for Jharkhand state

She asked the people to cast their votes cautiously bearing in mind that corruption and separatism were the principal enemies.

She said instability at the Centre had affected the economic development of the country, resulting in high inflation and a negative impact on the socio-political arena.

A stable Government at the Centre was the need of the hour and only the Congress, in spite of certain shortcomings which would now be set right, could provide stability, Sonia said.

She said it was Rajiv Gandhi, who had taken the initiative to constitute a committee to go into the demand for aJharkhand state, but added “sadly its suggestions could not be implemented as other political parties and vested interestscame in the way”.

“Rest assured, if the Congress comes to power, you will get a Jharkhand state,” she told a rally attended by an estimated 50,000 people at Khunti.Cautioning the people against parties out to damage the unity and integrity of the country in the name of religion, she said they were out to destabilise the country by jeopardising developmental process.