PUNE, 30 December 2005 — Taking note of the placards carried by a group of Muslim girls demanding “Do more for Muslim girls’ education” as soon as she stepped out of her car at a function marking the platinum jubilee celebrations of Muslim Cooperative Bank at the Azam Campus Wednesday afternoon, Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, promised several measures for the prosperity of Muslims.
Delivering the inaugural keynote address at the function, Sonia assured the gathering that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would focus more on the education of the Muslim community, especially girls. She urged the girls to take up education in a big way and stressed on compulsory education of girls, which was the mission of the UPA to ensure that no girl remains illiterate in the country. Sonia further stated that the Congress would review the 15-point minority program for the welfare of minorities that was first launched by Indira Gandhi in 1983, later adopted by the Rajiv Gandhi government, and would now be revised, updated and reintroduced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon.
Sonia said the UPA government had taken several measures to help the minorities, and added that the alliance government had always strived to work for the minorities. Citing the Bill for Prevention of Communal Violence and granting of constitutional power to the National Commission for Minorities, Sonia added that the government had also increased the quota for Haj pilgrims and provided concessional fares even after an increase in world fuel prices.
Turning to the issue of the placards carried by the Muslims girls, Sonia said she had the demand in mind and would definitely do something about it and added that this was not a mere political statement, but a promise which she would keep.
Later inaugurating a new printing press of the Lokmat group, the Congress president urged news organizations to use the power of the pen for the betterment of society and the nation. Saying that the “Fourth Estate is an important component of democracy” it is the responsibility of the media to emphasize on truth and added that while newspapers have to be run like a businesses, there should be no compromise on truth and human values.
Wrapping up the last function in her hectic five-hour visit to the city, Sonia addressed a huge gathering of Congress leaders and office-bearers. The Congress president took the two warring sections of the party in the city to task. In a strong message she asked the partymen to stop their squabbles and fight the challenges unitedly. “We are all traveling in a boat called Congress and you should remember that if the boat survives we will survive. So face the challenges before the party unitedly” she said.
