Sonia Gandhi's Speech - Full Text - May 15, 2004

New Delhi, May 15: Following is the text of the speech of the newly elected CPP leader Sonia Gandhi in the Central Hall of Parliament: PTI
Friends,
You have honoured me by reposing your trust and faith in me. I feel deeply humbled, I feel greatly privileged.
I stand here today, in the space once occupied by my greatest teachers. Panditji, Indiraji and Rajivji. Their lives have guided me throughout my journey. Their courage and complete devotion to India has given me the strength to continue on their path even years after their martyrdom.
I would like to remember them today, I would like to honour them today.
Friends,
We stand here as elected members of this August house as per the will of the people of our great nation.
Let us never forget that it is to them we owe our positions. Let us never slip, for even one moment. At all times, we must act in their interest, at all times we must acknowledge that it is their mandate that has given us this immense responsibility, at all times we must be conscious of the truth that we are in fact, their humble servants.
Let us not revel in our victory. Let us greet it as a welcome opportunity to effect the changes that may better the lives of our brothers and sisters all over India. Let us understand the sentiment behind this mandate. Let us each acknowledge that the people of India have chosen us to represent their aspirations not our own. The people of India have spoken.
They have once again re-affirmed what we all believed within our hearts. They have asserted that the soul of our nation is inclusive, secular and united.
They have decisively rejected the ideology of the likes of the RSS. They have decisively rejected the destructive and self serving policies of the BJP-NDA government.
They have decisively rejected the politics of personal attacks and negative campaigns.....MORE >
http://www.soniagandhi.org/php/showNews.php?newsid=69&linkid=11
And wonderful web site:
http://www.soniagandhi.org/