PM asks for votes in Sonia's name

AMBALA: Braving the morning chill, they proceeded to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''s rally on Monday morning, shouting their favourite slogan: "Sonia Gandhi zindabad."
Riding tractors, about 15 of them perched atop one, they were playing no politics avoiding the PM''s name. They probably forgot it.
Forgetfulness was in the air. If his hosts at Ambala Cantonment forgot to put the PM''s picture on the posters and banners put up in his honour or the speakers blundered, mentioning him third in the line after Sonia Gandhi and area MP Selja, or the factions in the state Congress were more concerned about hooting down their opponents, the PM half-and-hour cameo in Ambala was not too mindful either.
Claiming success of the UPA government in the National Employment Guarantee Scheme and the food-for-work programme in the Haryana assembly election campaign, Singh could strike no chord.Only a few districts in Haryana figure in the list of 150 backward areas where the food-for-work is functional.
With a sizable Sikh and Punjabi electorate in the area, Ambala was put on the PM''s itinerary for a political purpose. Akali Dal leader Bibi Jagir Kaur has been doing rounds for INLD, dissuading Sikhs from voting for the Congress as "it played a part in anti-Sikh riots". And "Sardar" Manmohan Singh was chosen to undo her effort.
Before the PM spoke, local leaders threw broad hints about how Congress dared to give such high posts to persons from the minority community: "Manmohan Singh was recognised for his qabliyat and General J J Singh for his bravery." The PM, however, seemed to miss the cue.
"Under Sonia Gandhi''s leadership, our government is trying to fulfill the promises made in our manifesto. Vote for Congress and strengthen Sonia Gandhi''s leadership," he urged voters.
"He almost seemed like the raja-ranis'' wise wazir. He is a very able man, but doesn''t seem to have too many powers," Parpoor Singh, who came with his Sikh folks from Nagal Halka, said.
Not getting too political, Singh, nevertheless, hit out at the Chautala government for not doing enough. He promised to address the issue of unemployment by trying to put Haryana on India''s industrial map. Education was his focal point. "Many institutes that came up in the area are dubious. Many people who were appointed VCs in past few years have got nothing to do with education. If we come to power, we will turn the universities of Haryana into centers of excellence," he said.
To the farmers, the PM promised good quality continuous power. "We also have to see that power is affordable," he said. To the urban Haryanvis, he promised better law and order.