Lucky to have Manmohan as PM,says Sonia

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said the BJP has no right to talk about terrorism as the country had witnessed several terror strikes...

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said the BJP has no right to talk about terrorism as the country had witnessed several terror strikes when that party was in power.

Sonia,who addressed election rallies at four centres in the state,came down heavily on BJP leader L K Advani who had found fault with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in tackling terrorism.

Advani should feel ashamed that it was during his term as home minister that the terrorists attacked Parliament. Several dreaded ultra elements were freed by the BJP Government when an Indian Airlines flight was hijacked to Afganisthan. They were released as demanded by the hijackers of the plane. Many of them latter regrouped and carried out strikes in the country, she said.

Reiterating the party commitment to fight terrorism,Sonia said Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had sacrificed their lives to safeguard secularism. The Congress is the only party that did not compromise with terrorism and communalism. No other party has the right to make such a claim. The Left had joined hands with the BJP twice in the past, she said.

Sonia said the Left parties had criticised the Prime Minister along with the BJP. They had abused the Prime Minister,which could be seen only with concern. Manmohan Singh is a politician only when he is contesting an election. Praising the clean image of the Prime Minister,Sonia said,We were lucky to have him as the PM. She said the UPA Government had delivered to the public what it had promised five years back.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More