‘No need to fret over Left’

In step with the Prime Minister on identifying India’s priorities, a word of assurance to the business community on interventions by th...

In step with the Prime Minister on identifying India’s priorities, a word of assurance to the business community on interventions by the Left, a resolve to firmly deal with the pathetic state of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh and, to sign off, a prompt diplomatic reponse to Imran Khan. Congress president Sonia Gandhi clearly overshadowed all what followed at the Hindustan Times Leadership Initiative today.

Setting the tone, Sonia put the distinguished audience on the defensive right at the start. ‘‘We met exactly a year ago to discuss India and South Asia. And I bet none of you expected me to be here

today as part of the establishment rather than the Opposition,’’ she said.

When it came to the question of addressing concerns over constant interference by Left parties on the Government’s economic measures, Sonia said hiccups among parties in the coalition should not be much cause for worry.

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‘‘I think the business community does not need to be worried…We are coalition partners and they are our valued allies. We work on the basis of the Common Minimum Programme. It is the right of all coalition partners to express their feelings… and there are bound to be hiccups. But we sit down in a civilised fashion and come to a certain understanding and agreement.’’

She admitted the dismal performance of the UP Congress Committee and, amid reports that UPCC president Jagdambika Pal may be on his way out, she said: ‘‘Something will happen’’.

Both Sonia and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underlined ‘‘democratic pluralism’’ in India as the cornerstone of the Government’s vision.

‘‘Just like many developed industrial economies assisted the so-called economies in transition… (to convert from) centrally planned economies to open market economies, a democracy like ours can be of some help in enabling societies in transition to evolve into open, inclusive, plural democratic societies,’’ Singh said.

	Invest in rural areas: Manmohan

			• NEW DELHI: Could panchayats be explored as alternative credit delivery and loan recovery agencies, or, can they be last-leg distributors of electrical energy, ensuring better supply of power and better bill collection? These were some of the ideas floated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a CII presentation on Friday. ‘‘We can’t allow India to be divided into two distinct zones — one modern, competitive and prosperous, and the other stagnant and backward,’’ said Singh, emphasising the need to invest much more in agriculture, irrigation, rural infrastructure, education and health. — ENS Story continues below this ad

Sonia seemed to endorse the view and said: ‘‘If India wants to be seen as being exclusive in the world as she indeed is, then she has to be inclusive at home. Our nationalism has necessarily to be secular, pluralistic and liberal.’’

On Priyanka entering politics, Sonia said her daughter was now concentrating on her family.

When Pakistan cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan asked her to distinguish between freedom fighters and terrorists, recognising the query was in the context of the Kashmir issue, Sonia said her party had urged the NDA government to enter into a dialogue with Pakistan. ‘‘That dialogue is continuing and we are going to see it continues and we work towards finding a solution to our problem.’’

Imran later said her decision to not take up the prime ministership was admirable and ‘‘not something one gets to see in sub-continent culture’’.