Sonia calls for quicker distribution of charity

Lucknow: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday instructed officials in her Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh to speed up flood relief measures and distribute the compensation granted to the affected people at the earliest.

The directive came on the first day of her visit to the constituency, during which she expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of the relief work being undertaken in the half dozen flood and rain hit villages that she toured.

She also met members of the women's self-help group in Unchahar block of the district and promised that the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust will continue its financial assistance to them. Later in the evening, Gandhi attended an Iftar party organised by the district Congress committee.

"She met religious leaders of various communities and prominent persons of various localities," a Congress leader said. Gandhi will be staying at a guest house in Rae Bareli and today morning will meet the people of the area to address their woes.

"After this, Gandhi will be distributing sports kit to local players. She will also take part in the meeting of the local vigilance committee of the Congress in the evening and review the Lok Sabha poll preparations," UP spokesperson A.P. Singh said.