Defeat 'divisive and autocratic' forces: Sonia Gandhi's appeal to the nation

Congress party finally put Sonia Gandhi under the arc lights and bought advertisement slots in Hindi channels to run her appeal to voters. Here is the text of the transcript in English.

Friends,

Today I want to share with you what is in my heart, what makes me proud to be Indian, as each of you is a proud Indian. Our India is founded on certain core beliefs and values. It is these basic beliefs that have united all of us, diverse people, into one nation. I learnt these from you, as you made me one of your own.

What are these values that are the very heart and soul of our motherland? They are Love and Respect, Harmony and Brotherhood. In a word, Non-violence.

Living with these feelings for each other across religions, castes, communities, regions, languages, is what makes us one strong nation. These have been the bedrock of our progress. These are the essence of our Bharatiyata, our Hindustaniyat.

It is this, the very heart and soul of India, that we are fighting to protect in this election, from those who seek to change it, and to divide us. We want unity. They want to impose uniformity. They say, “Just believe in ME”.

We say, “Believe in our intentions, in our achievements : a high rate of growth, inclusive development, strong democratic institutions."

We are fighting in this election for a future where power is not the preserve of a select few, but exercised by the many.

Today, our society stands at a cross-roads. The Congress ideology and vision, will continue to take us towards a healthy, free democracy open to the light of change and transformation. Their vision, clouded with hatred and falsehood, their ideology, divisive and autocratic, will drive us to the ruination of our Bharatiyata, our Hindustaniyat.

In this coming election I ask each of you to think from your heart and decide what direction, what path you want our country to take.



Jai Hind!