Nation knows who spews venom through speeches: Sonia

Hitting out at Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday said the country is aware of communal forces and their leaders who spew venom through their speeches but did not take the name of that party's Pilibhit candidate Varun Gandhi.

"The country is aware of these forces and leaders who spread venom through their speeches," said Gandhi addressing a joint poll rally in Vidarbha region along with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar.

Though she did not name anyone in connection with her remarks on the hate speeches, it was apparent that the target of her attack was Varun, who made anti-Muslim remarks.

"Country is alert to parties based on communalism, casteism and regionalism. People do not want such parties which create riots, whose leaders make speeches that lead to hatred and which sends terrorists to Afghanistan like guests," Gandhi said.

Sharing the dais with Pawar and NCP leader Praful Patel, Gandhi hailed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying he had all the abilities, the experience and the capacity to take the appropriate decisions and provide a stable government to the country.

In an obvious reference to the Shiv Sena and the BJP in Maharashtra, Gandhi said Congress will not allow communal parties to take over the government in the state and Centre.

Gandhi referred to various schemes of the UPA like loan waiver to farmers, NREGA, Bharat Nirman, laws for tribals, weaker sections and schemes for women, educational schemes like loan for backward children and midday meal as achievements of the government.

On the plight of the farmers in the Vidarbha region, she said a package of Rs 3000 crore to the farmers of the region has been given.

"Till the farmers get all facilities, the country cannot move forward," she said in the area, which saw several farmer suicides in the recent past. Gandhi claimed that only the Congress can take along all sections of society.

She also recalled the role of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. "The UPA under Manmohan Singh has done work with the same tradition," she said.