Sonia: Prices raised the least
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said an increase in prices is never a pleasant thing. She said that Congresspersons across the country should understand why the current hike in oil prices was necessary and how the price increase was kept to a minimum. “This message must be shared with the people,” she said. In her “Letter to the
Congresspersons” published in the latest issue of the party mouthpiece Congress Sandesh, Mrs Gandhi explained this issue. Interestingly, it came on the eve of a discussion on this issue in the Lok Sabha.
Mrs Gandhi said that there has also been a recent increase in oil prices. An increase in prices is never a pleasant thing. However, this has been done for a number of reasons, including increasing the availability of funds for our social sector schemes.
“I must mention here that the UPA has throughout its tenure, worked to ensure that the aam admi is shielded from t he burden of rising oil prices in the international market. Our record on this front is there for all to see.”
“While the NDA raised the prices of diesel and petrol 31 and 28 times respectively in their five year tenure and the UPA kept a close vigil on prices only changing it on nine occasions in six years,” she said.
On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, she said, “I understand that there were elements with ulterior motives that were instigating these attacks.” On Bihar Assembly elections, she said “This is an important election for us...The Congress will revive itself in Bihar if we work collectively and cohesively.”
Mrs Gandhi said the Congress workers must apprise the people about the Central development funds given to the state in the last six years.
“Over the past six years, our government has ensured an exponential increase in funds to the Bihar government for various development schemes and projects. Our party workers must take this message to the people. The Congress will revive itself in Bihar if we work collectively and cohesively,” she said.
On the National Advisory Council, of which she is the chairperson, Mrs Gandhi said that it was set up as an interface with civil society and has begun its work in right earnest.
“The objective behind the setting up of the NAC is to provide policy and legislative inputs to government with special focus on social policy and the rights of the disadvantaged groups,” she said. Mrs Gandhi expressed hope that the NAC will play an important role in identifying and recommending measures to ensure that the flagship programmes of the government are “implemented in the best interests of the common man”.
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