Times of India Nagpur Pg 10
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3060349.cms
Arjun heaps praise on Sonia, Rahul
LUCKNOW: In the backdrop of controversy over his remarks on democracy and definition of loyalty in Congress, senior party leader and HRD Minister Arjun Singh on Wednesday heaped praise on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi saying they have filled the void created by Rajiv Gandhi's death.
"After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, a vacuum was natural... We, however, are fortunate that this vacuum was filled by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," Singh said.
The Minister was speaking at a function, organised here by the Backwards Cell of Uttar Pradesh Congress, to observe the 17th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The veteran Congress leader chose the occasion to pay rich tributes to Rajiv Gandhi, saying for him patriotism and the country's interests were supreme.
"Only a person who is totally committed to the nation can make an attempt like Rajiv Gandhi did to bring murderers of his mother into the mainstream", the HRD minister said.
Singh said Rajiv Gandhi always took up the cause of weaker sections of society and this resulted in increased representation of women in the Panchayti Raj system.
Referring to 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher education, Singh said several parties tried to make an issue out of it.
But, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress chief ensured that these sections should not remain deprived of this facility, he said.
Making light of reports that Congress lacked support within the UPA on the quota issue for the backwards, Singh said the legislation received Cabinet's full support and was passed unanimously in Parliament.
Accusing some parties of indulging in caste-based politics, the Minister said creating conflicts could help them temporarily but it was not in country's interests.
The Congress never believed in pitting one caste against the other and was of the view that all sections of the society should work together for country's progress and development, he said.
LUCKNOW: In the backdrop of controversy over his remarks on democracy and definition of loyalty in Congress, senior party leader and HRD Minister Arjun Singh on Wednesday heaped praise on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi saying they have filled the void created by Rajiv Gandhi's death.
"After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, a vacuum was natural... We, however, are fortunate that this vacuum was filled by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," Singh said.
The Minister was speaking at a function, organised here by the Backwards Cell of Uttar Pradesh Congress, to observe the 17th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The veteran Congress leader chose the occasion to pay rich tributes to Rajiv Gandhi, saying for him patriotism and the country's interests were supreme.
"Only a person who is totally committed to the nation can make an attempt like Rajiv Gandhi did to bring murderers of his mother into the mainstream", the HRD minister said.
Singh said Rajiv Gandhi always took up the cause of weaker sections of society and this resulted in increased representation of women in the Panchayti Raj system.
Referring to 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher education, Singh said several parties tried to make an issue out of it.
But, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress chief ensured that these sections should not remain deprived of this facility, he said.
Making light of reports that Congress lacked support within the UPA on the quota issue for the backwards, Singh said the legislation received Cabinet's full support and was passed unanimously in Parliament.
Accusing some parties of indulging in caste-based politics, the Minister said creating conflicts could help them temporarily but it was not in country's interests.
The Congress never believed in pitting one caste against the other and was of the view that all sections of the society should work together for country's progress and development, he said.
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