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From the lawns of 7, Race Course Road, the United ProgressiveAlliance sent out a message to all its opponents on its eighthanniversary: we may be going through a difficult patch, but we arestill growing because we represent the forces of secularism andpluralism. For, on stage with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Congress president Sonia Gandhi and representatives of the UPAallies were Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav — whowon a spectacular victory in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year— and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Later, ata dinner, too, the two Yadavs were given pride of place as theysat, flanking Ms. Gandhi and her son, Rahul Gandhi. T.R. Baalurepresented the DMK. There was also a message to Trinamool Congress chief and WestBengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who stayed away from theUPA's celebrations and sent MoS Saugato Roy in her stead: thealliance was not short of numbers as it had the 21-MP strong SPbacking it. Indeed, wittingly or unwittingly, Mr. Mulayam SinghYadav, along with other UPA members, held aloft the UPA's Report tothe People for a photo-op, completing the picture of the extendedfamily. Underscoring the message, Ms. Gandhi, while attacking theOpposition for levelling "irresponsible accusations"against the UPA and taking note of the "storms" insideand outside Parliament that had to be weathered, underscored theneed to return to basics: "We are committed to secularprinciples." Ms. Gandhi observed that the mandate in the next polls would dependon the work done, and not on promises. If many Congress leaders were taken aback at Mr. Mulayam SinghYadav's presence on stage, the party's media managers were quick tooffer their interpretations: "For the Congress and the UPA,the secular principle has always stood it in good stead," aMinister said, emphasising, "We'll do till 2014."Adding his bit, a senior functionary said, "A thin lineseparates an ally from a supporter: they should be treated equallyas their impact is felt in precisely the same way." Mr.Mulayam Singh Yadav, on his part, merely said that though he wasnot part of the UPA, he was supporting it from outside and he hadbeen invited on stage. Meanwhile, Mr. Gandhi, responding to a question on Uttar Pradesh,said the party needed to continue working hard in the State. Askedto explain Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav's presence on stage, he said,"These are two different things." So, even as the Congress demonstrated on Tuesday that it had thenumbers to push through its own candidate in the upcomingPresidential polls, both Ms. Gandhi and Dr. Singh, in answer toquestions whether there would soon be a change in the status ofUnion Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee (whose name is incirculation for President), were non-committal. Ms. Gandhi simplysaid, "I can't say anything yet." Earlier, the Prime Minister, in his speech, conceded that thegovernment needed to do better, and said he would welcome aconstructive debate. Emphasising that poverty had declined at twicethe rate than it had before the UPA government came to power, hepointed out, "Despite an adverse economic environment, Indiacontinued to be the second fastest growing economy at the rate of7%." He urged all political parties to rise above partisanconsiderations so that India could face the uncertain globalenvironment with greater confidence and rise united to thechallenges the nation faces. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Heated Insole Manufacturer , Led Bike Lights Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Rechargeable Led Flashlight.
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