Murshidabad (West Bengal), Apr 28 : Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday criticized the Left Front West Bengal government on the violence that was recently witnessed in Nandigram.

Sonia was addressing a farmer's rally in Murshidabad today, ahead of Panchayat elections in West Bengal, Sonia Gandhi said, “What happened in Nandigram was wrong and that the party is with the people of Nandigram in their difficulties.”

Left parties support the Congress party led United People’s Alliance (UPA) government at the centre.

Describing her party as farmer friendly, Gandhi said that waiving of 600,000 million rupee loan to farmers is an effort by the UPA government to lower their burden.

"We value the hard work of our farmers and we cannot see them in a desolate condition. Very recently, the 60,000 crores loan waiver scheme initiated by central government for the small and medium farmers was intended to lower the burden from our farmers," said Sonia.

The election rally in Murshidabad was followed by her visit to Siliguri district, where she recounted several welfare measures for rural areas like National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme taken by the government and again appealed for support of the people.

"Congress Party is driven by principles. Our ideologies are same for everybody irrespective of a particular group or persons. I thereby request you to support congress people and help change the picture of Bengal."

Sonia Gandhi is campaigning extensively in West Bengal's two districts of Murshidabad and Maldah where the Congress party has a large number of Members of Parliament from the state.

The party wants to increase its support base and is focusing on panchayat elections being held in May.

The Congress is going to take the Left head on in the panchayat polls. (ANI)