Sonia Gandhi makes 3-minute television appeal, says BJP will ruin 'Bharatiyata'

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi made a rare television appearance urging electorate to snub "divisive and autocratic" forces that would damage the country's "Bharatiyata" and "Hindustaniyat".

Speaking in Hindi and without taking any names, Gandhi said, “Congress is fighting this election to protect the very heart and soul of India from those who sought to change it and divide the people of the country”.

“We want unity. They want to impose uniformity. They say, ‘Just believe in me’… Their vision, clouded with hatred and falsehood, their ideology, divisive and autocratic, will drive us to the ruination of our Bharatiyata, our Hindustaniyat,” she added.

She also praised Indians for preserving certain core beliefs and values that have united varied people into one nation. “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,” said Sonia.

Her address was aired on all Hindi channels.

Meanwhile, BJP dismissed ‘fake’ appeal by Sonia Gandhi.

"This kind of fake emotional appeal...an appeal of desperation because the ground is slipping beneath Sonia Gandhi and Congress", BJP leader Ravi Shanker Prasad said commenting on her appeal telecast by several TV channels.

Prasad said the coming "election is being on the issues of mal-governance, on the issue of stinking corruption, on rising unemployment, spiralling prices and on the issue of legacy of suffering of India, an unsecure India".

"Sonia Gandhi has no answer to all these burning problems of the day with which Indians are distressed, agonized and deeply pained. Therefore, this kind of fake emotional appeal", he said. "What type of harmony are you (Gandhi) talking about? Calling Imam Bukhari to your residence and making an appeal to unite all the Muslims?" Prasad said adding "even Muslims are suffering from unemployment and price rise. Therefore, I see all this nothing but an appeal of desperation because the ground is slipping beneath Sonia Gandhi and Congress", he said.

Prasad said "is the disaster of ten years is not enough under Sonia Gandhi-led UPA that she is seeking support again?"

Sonia has given 'farewell speech': BJP

Meanwhile, picking on Ms Gandhi's televised appeal to voters, BJP said it is a "farewell speech" of an exhausted Congress and reflects her realisation that her son Rahul Gandhi has not clicked on the election front and she needs to take charge.

"All of a sudden Sonia Gandhi has come to the fore to take charge of the (election) campaign. She had thought that her son would do something. But when nothing happened. What could she do? The mother herself had to come to the fore, appear on TV to deliver advertised messages to the nation,"

Narendra Modi said addressing a rally in Bhagalpur. BJP Spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, "Sonia Gandhi's appeal on television yesterday was a farewell speech of an exhausted Congress. It was clear display of an effort to create a fear psychosis amongst the voters about the BJP and Sh Modi. It also connotes a shift of campaign leadership from Rahul Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi and a tacit admission that Rahul has not clicked."

He said, "It was full of hypocrisy. She talked about giving power to the people but has deprived the PM of his powers, which stands exposed by two recent books written by the former aides of the PM, Manmohan Singh."

Taking potshots at the Congress, the principal opposition party said it is display of an effort to create a fear psychosis amongst voters about BJP and Narendra Modi.

BJP also hit out at the ruling party using revelations made in the two recent books by the PM's aides that the prime minister did not enjoy his powers and said Sonia's speech is

"full of hypocricy".

Attacking the Congress president for accusing BJP of being divisive and communal, Javadekar said, the track record shows that the Congress is the "most communal and divisive party".

Modi also hit out at Sonia saying, "You must have seen this paid news. They have lots of money, they can buy TV (channels), they can buy time on TV and tell what they want to say."

Sonia Gandhi had last night appealed to people to defeat "divisive and autocratic" forces which will "destroy" the Indian ethos.

Modi said when Gandhi says her party respects democratic traditions, it is something that cannot be easily digested.

"In 2004, when your (Congress) government was formed, what was your first action? Without following any democratic practice or without consulting any Chief Minister, you removed governors. Is this a sample of you honouring democratic traditions?"

The Gujarat chief minister also accused the Congress of creating tensions between IB and CBI for its political objectives.