Sonia gives BJP taste of its own medicine

The war of recrimination between the BJP and Congress over the free medicine scheme in Rajasthan refuses to die down. In continuation of the Congress party’s ad targeting Vasundhara Raje, “Dawa ko zehar bataya, masoom janta ko daraya”, in Saturday’s local dailies, party president Sonia Gandhi too waged a war on this score.
Addressing an election rally in Kota on Saturday, Mrs Gandhi refuted the BJP’s allegations that the medicines being distributed by the Ashok Gehlot government under the chief minister’s free medicine scheme were poisonous.
She said the BJP was wrongly accusing the Congress government and spreading rumours. Making a special mention of the free medicine and free check-up schemes in government hospitals across Rajasthan, Mrs Gandhi said it was for the benefit of all, whether rich or poor.
She said the Opposition was spreading rumours that the medicines were poison. “But what is the truth? The truth is that the medicines are not poisonous. Poisonous are they who have no empathy to the poor, who can’t see poor people’s problems and those who are only eyeing power.” Praising the ruling Gehlot government, she said Rajasthan had emerged as a leading industrial destination. Speaking in Kota, an education hub, she also lauded the efforts of the ruling Congress party in opening an IIT in Udaipur, AIIMS in Jodhpur and IIIT in Kota.
She referred to the already publicised pension schemes, saying the Gehlot government had just doubled the old age pension, which was nominal before. Talking about other social security measures of the Congress, including housing for the poor, she said the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government has paid special attention to empower all sections of the people through legal rights.
She also mentioned MNREGA, Right to Education, Right to Information and recent laws related to the Food Security Act and land acquisition law. She promised the Congress would fulfil all promises made in the Congress manifesto with full commitment and sincerity.