http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=021918
Sonia's visit aimed at enthusing workers: GPCC NT Staff Reporter Panaji Feb 18: The Goa pradesh Congress committee president, Mr Ravi Naik today said the visit of the all-India Congress committee, Ms Sonia Gandhi was aimed at enthusing party workers in the state, even as he ruled out early elections to the state assembly. Briefing reporters about the programme of Ms Gandhi's two-day visit to the state, the GPCC president said the visit of the AICC president was long overdue and that she was expected to brief the party workers about the policies of the Congress party and guide them how to propagate the government schemes, aimed at uplifting the common persons, among the people. Mr Naik said the AICC general-secretary in-charge of the Goa desk, Ms Margaret Alva would also be present along with Ms Gandhi and newly appointed secretary to look after Goa affairs of the party, Mr Siddharth Patel during her visit to the state and party workers' meeting scheduled for February 22 at Campal. Ms Gandhi will land at Dabolim airport on February 22 and then travel by a helicopter to Oras in Maharashtra, where she is scheduled to attend a function. She will return to Goa at 4.30 p.m. by the helicopter and go to the Raj Bhavan. She will return later to address the party workers. She is also expected to meet party leaders, ministers and representatives of non-governmental organisations during her stay at Raj Bhavan said Mr Naik, adding that she will also lay foundation stone for IT habitat. Later replying to a question, Mr Naik said the assembly elections will be held on schedule in mid-2007 and the visit of the AICC president was purely for bringing enthusiasm among the state party workers even as he emphatically ruled out possibility of snap polls. The GPCC president also said that all arrangements for the schedule meeting to be addressed by Ms Gandhi have been made and that leaders of various organisations of the party have been directed bring leaders and workers from grassroot level for the meeting. He also said that all the promises made to the people during the last by-elections by the party would be fulfilled. -- Peace be with you! Ani borem mog khor! Gabe Menezes. London, England
