Strong, stable govt needed to deal with recession: Sonia

JALANDHAR: Claiming that it was only due to the UPA's policies that the Indian economy was able to deal with recession, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said that only her party could provide the strong and stable government needed to tackle the economic downturn.

"The Nation needs a strong and stable government at the Centre which works for the development of the people of the country and to deal with the challenges of economic recession and terrorism.

Congress Party is the only political party which can provide such a government under the able leadership of Manmohan Singh," Gandhi said in her speech at a rally held in support of party candidate Mohinder Singh Kay Pee here.

"I am proud to be on the land of Punjab, which is known as land of sacrifices due to its immense contribution in freedom struggle. I salute the land of Punjab," she said from the dais, which she shared with former Punjab chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, AICC general secretary Mohsina Kidwai and Kay Pee.

Terming terrorism as a challenge before the nation, Gandhi alleged that unlike the NDA, UPA never bowed down before terrorism and will never do so in future and is capable of fighting it tooth and nail.