Sonia's call to end mafia raj

National President of Congress Sonia Gandhi lambasted the Samajwadi Party (SP) government and dubbed it as a party of 'mafiosi' and exhorted the masses to end 'mafia raj'' in the State.

Those who called themselves 'Samajwadi' didn't know the meaning of 'Samajwad', Sonia stated.

“Kya Samajwadi ka matlab mafiawaad hai? Kya Samajwadi ka matlab apna parivar aur apna mitro ko dhani bana dena hai? Kya Samajwadi ka matlab kuch logo ko hi vikshit dekhna hai (Does Samajwad mean making oneself and friends rich and leave the masses to live in utter poverty),” asked the Congress president while attacking the State government.

Sonia was in the city to address a party rally to end the first phase of campaigning in the State.

Addressing a large gathering at Motijheel grounds here on Thursday, the Congress president went all out to attack the Samajwadi Party. In her barely 12-minute long speech, she time and again referred to the Samajwadi Party as a party of 'mafiosi', 'goons' and 'plunderers'.

Each time the Congress president used the word 'mafia' for the State government and Samajwadi Party, she was greeted with a big round of applause from the gathering.

“Time has come for the masses to remove 'mafiosi' from power and vote for a change in the State,” Sonia said.

“It is for you to decide whether you want a government led by mafia or Congress, who is committed to overall development of the state. Before voting, you must think twice and vote for a change,” she said.

Congress is the only party which represents each and every Indian irrespective of his caste, creed, religion and community.”

She added that Congress party never believed in sectarian, communal and religious aspects of political administration.

Presenting the values of Congress before the masses, Sonia stated that election and politics were not the means for Congress to attain power. Rather it always fought to serve the nation since time immemorial.

Attacking non-Congress governments of the State, the Congress president said, “Congress has been out of power in the State for the past 18 years and subsequent non-Congress governments are responsible for the deplorable condition of the Uttar Pradesh.”

“They have misused your vote and now time has come to bring Congress back to power and get the real value for your vote,” Sonia Gandhi stated.

“You have trusted all parties and now it's time to remove such political parties from power who do politics for vested interest”, she added.

The Congress president also took the opportunity to blame non-Congress governments for causing stature loss to UP in national politics.

“Earlier UP used to be the guiding force for national politics but since non-Congress governments took control of UP, the State has lost its stature in national politics.”

The Congress leader ended her speech by exhorting the masses, “Mafia raj ka anth karna hai aap logo ko”.