Sonia taunts PM hopefuls

She added,“But you know that Manmohan Singhji and I am not concentrating on the seat of Prime Minister; we are concentrating on fulfilling your expectation and realising your dreams.”

Praising the Prime Minister,she told voters of her constituency that the Government had been able to fulfil all promises that were “mentioned in our manifesto. But BJP leaders still say Manmohan Singh cannot take his own decision”.

Striking a personal note,Sonia said,“For five generations,we have served this place and have got love in return. I have several memories,be it the last visit of Rajiv Gandhi or the dedication of Indira Gandhi. You have equally cared for my children Rahul and Priyanka. You and your children have stood with every member of our family and I do not know how I would be able to repay that debt.”

Attacking the state Government,she said,“It is evident that the non-Congress Government at the state level works just for its self interest. I wanted to do a lot of work for this place but was unable to do so and you know why. We have struggled for the development of this area amid hurdles and would do so in the future as well.”

Cong urges intellectuals to come out and vote
LUCKNOW: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today appealed to the intellectuals in Lucknow to make it a point to cast their vote in the Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi made the appeal in closed-door meeting with the city’s doctors,advocates,teachers and other professionals on Saturday.

In her address to them,she is believed to have told them that the Congress had fielded a professor in Lucknow. State Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi,who is the party’s candidate for Lucknow,is a professor at Allahabad University and was Gandhi’s personal choice for the seat. Sources said while teachers urged the Congress president for Central university status for Lucknow University,some lawyers requested that they be consulted by the government before taking any major decision regarding judicial reform.