Sonia commences her third leg of UP roadshow, criticises BJP

VARANASI, Feb 19 (UNI) Launching the third phase of her 'road show' in Uttar Pradesh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today called upon the people to vote for the party so that an efficient and transparent government could assume power at the centre.

Addressing a small public meeting at Arei village in the district, Gandhi ridiculed the 'feel good' slogan of BJP and emphasised that it was Congress, which had always fought for the cause of people.

The AICC president patiently heard the problems of villagers and even assured that if Congress was voted to power, most of their grievances would be redressed.

Congress had a poor show in eastern UP during the last Lok Sabha elections in 1999 and 1998, when none of the party candidates were elected.

Only in 1996, they got one seat when former union minister late Kalpanath Rai won from Ghosi constituency.

Gandhi was welcomed this morning by state Congress leaders when she arrived here on the third leg of her roadshow in Uttar Pradesh.

Her intinerary include visits to the Naxalite-affected Varanasi, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra districts.

Earlier, clashes broke out between CISF men guarding the Babatpur Airport and Congress workers when the latter tried to gatecrash into the premises to welcome Gandhi.

About five people were injured in the clash.

A similar clash took place at Gorakhpur Airport on February nine when Gandhi was to arrive for the second leg of her road show.

However in that clash, two groups of Congressmen had themselves clashed with each other over their entry inside airport permises.