IANS/New Delhi

The Congress will release its manifesto today for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with the document reflecting the party’s thrust on inclusive development, spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said here yesterday.
Party president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will be present at the party office here to release the manifesto.
Rahul Gandhi has taken a personal interest in framing the document by meeting a cross-section of people including porters, farmers and fishermen.
“The manifesto will be progressive and inclusive,” Singhvi said.
Asked if the party had fulfilled the promises made in its previous manifesto, he said these had been done to a great degree.
Singhvi said the party has been releasing a report to the people every year which outlined welfare measures taken by the United Progressive Alliance government, including the steps taken to fulfil the party’s manifesto.
Meanwhile in Kolkata, Rahul Gandhi could not address a rally due to rain and thunderstorms.
The storm - locally called ‘norwester’ which is common at this time of the year - uprooted the wires of loudspeakers, overturned tables and chairs and tore apart the cloth used to set up a canopy at the Shahid Minar Maidan.
Congress supporters, who had gathered in strength, fled and the venue became nearly empty.
After Gandhi’s chopper landed at the nearby race course, a few hundred party workers who had stayed back despite the inclement weather seemed enthusiastic.
Gandhi drove to the venue along with party general secretary Shakil Ahmed Khan, state party chief Adhir Chowdhury and other leaders. He climbed on to the dais and waved at the workers, who reciprocated with applause.
He later came down to the ground, mingled with the crowd and shook hands before again going up the dais. Gandhi left after spending a few minutes.
At an earlier rally, Gandhi attacked the West Bengal government for not being different from the Left regime it ousted.
Addressing an election rally at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district, Gandhi also alleged that the central government funds sent to the state never reached the beneficiaries.
“Bengal has contributed largely for the country but unfortunately it has not progressed as desired,” Gandhi said.
“Earlier there was a Communist government here... Communism failed in Russia, (it) changed in China and fortunately also in Bengal”.