Congress president Sonia Gandhi has said that the rising prices remain a source of worry for the ruling United Progressive Alliance government.
She said this while addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party on Tuesday.
"I know all of you have been concerned with the price situation. There is no doubt that our government has placed the economy on a higher growth path and the investment climate has improved significantly. Business confidence, both nationally and internationally, is high. But prices remain a source of worry. Our party and the government are in regular touch. The government has already announced a large number of measures (to curb prices)," she said.
She also praised the government for initiating national means-cum-merit scholarship scheme for young and bright students.
At the outset, she expressed her party's anguish at the attack on the Samjhauta Express last month. "Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. This was undoubtedly an attempt to undermine the progressing dialogue between India and Pakistan. It is gratifying that the governments (of India and Pakistan) and the people of both countries have come together to condemn this inhuman act of terrorism. As the President said in his address to Parliament, we must not let this tragic event divert us from our common endeavour to normalise relations between our two countries," she said.
She also referred to killing of innocent people in Upper Assam and commended the people of the state who responded with understanding and courage.
"The successful National Games in Guwahati is testimony to the resilience and tenacity of the Assamese people," she said.
Interestingly, Women Reservation Bill does not figure in the list of important bills that would be taken up in the current session of Parliament.
She expressed concern at what she called rising intolerance and communalism in the country and asked Congressmen to be alert and to "counter such attempts proactively."
"Congress is the only party that provides shelter to all. The values of secularism, pluralism, and respect for all irrespective of caste, creed, language and community with a commitment to unity through diversity and justice for all are the ideals that our party symbolises. Let us support and encourage the UPA government to speedily implement programmes for all sections, especially the more vunerable ones and minorities," she advised her party leaders.
Sonia chided her party leaders of putting their personal ambitions over the larger interests of the party, which according to her led to the defeat of the Congress party in Punjab and Uttarakhand.
"Did our party fail to work unitedly?" she asked.
"We are going to be put to the test shortly. Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are round the corner. This will be a difficult challenge, though our performance in the recent munipal elections gives us confidence," she warned.
While she lauded the party's return to power in Manipur in the recently held state Assembly elections, she was disappointed with its performance in Punjab and Uttarakhand.
"In spite of sound all round development, we were unable to retain power. This tells us that while objective factors such as price rise may have had an impact, there were other reasons as well," she said.
She gave her piece of her mind to party leaders in what she called her mid term assessment of the UPA government's coming to power.
"We must take note of the fact that a deep-rooted change is occurring in the mind and attitude of the electorate. Voters are becoming impatient, they want their lives to improve. They want good and clean governance, employment, prosperity, security and social justice," Sonia said.
She sought to cheer up parytmen by telling them "we must not allow ourselves to get distracted from our path either by electoral swings that are inevitable in a democracy or by the disruptive machinations of the opposition."
With PTI Inputs
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