Projecting Modi as PM candidate a great blunder: Saif-ud-din Soz

JAMMU: Asserting that the Congress-led UPA will retain power after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Saif-ud-din Soz today said his party is the "befitting reply" to the communal and divisive forces.

"Congress is the befitting reply to the communal and divisive forces in the country. UPA will come back to power as UPA-III in the next Lok Sabha elections," Soz said at a rally in Darhal of Rajouri district today.

He said projecting Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate would prove to be a "great blunder" on the part of BJP and it could never come to power at the Centre because people of the country believe in secularism and would not accept its policy of hatred.

He said strengthening the Congress is a befitting reply to the communal and sectarian forces and asserted that only Congress can lead the nation on the path of peace, progress and prosperity.

Soz said the Congress party has always played a major role in unity and integrity of the state and the country and maintaining the religious brotherhood and communal harmony and have policies and programmes aimed at development and welfare of people of all walks of life.

Referring to the party's strength in Leh and Kargil, Soz said the Jammu region has always been the stronghold of the Congress and there is a change in the mind set of youths of Kashmir valley towards it.

He said Congress does not divide the people on lines of region or religion and believe in strengthening democracy and transparency and ensuring development.

He referred to the vision of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for empowerment of Panchayats throughout the country and said people have voted for democracy at the grassroots and "we are duty bond to empower the people through Panchayats".

He referred to the Information Technology sector in which India is emerged as a leader in the world and said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was taking keen interest in development projects and employment opportunity for youths of the state.