Congress is not weak in AP: Azad

Hyderabad, December 16 : Union Health Minister and In-charge of AP Congress Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday claimed that the Congress party was not weak in the State.

Addressing the Pradesh Congress Committee’s extension meeting at LB Stadium, Azad said that the Congress party was strong and could repeat the results of 2004, provided all leaders work unitedly to achieve the goal. Stressing on effective coordination between the party leaders in New Delhi up to the level of block level workers, he said that serious efforts should be made to ensure that party wins the confidence and support of all the sections of the society.

Instead of touching upon the State issues, Azad focused his entire speech highlighting the achievements of Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. He also made a mention of how some UPA allies were unhappy over the FDI policies. However, he gave full credit to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for withstanding the economic slowdown that hit the world economies.

Azad said that while the entire world was struggling to overcome the slowdown, the UPA Government provided jobs to about 12 crore people through MGNREGS and 82 lakh people were provided free housing. Speaking about his ministry, he said that Arogyasri Scheme was being given 100 per cent subsidy under the National Rural Health Mission. He said presently about 18,000 ambulances were operating across the country under various schemes for the benefit of the people. Several schemes for pregnant women and new born child were also under implementation.

The Union Health Minister announced that the Centre and State was contemplating to provide free medicines for women from the next year, besides ensuring free health check-up for all school children. He also listed out several schemes including Mid-Day Meal being implemented by the Centre.

Azad said that the victory of Congress was essential during the next elections for the overall growth of the country. He enthralled the Congress workers to organised district-level and block-level conventions to energise themselves for the next general elections.