Govt under fire at CWC meet,Sonia slams Team Anna

While Sonia’s response was conservative — she chose to skip the economic performance aspect altogether — she did come out strongly in defence of the Prime Minister on at least the slew of corruption allegations he has been facing from Team Anna. She also reminded party leaders of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

“In a democracy,it is the job of the Opposition to oppose,but the manner in which the Opposition and some anti-Congress elements are,as part of a conspiracy,levelling baseless allegations against the Prime Minister,the UPA government,the party and some of our colleagues is a matter of regret,” Sonia said in her opening remarks.

“We will have to fight fiercely against such allegations at the party and the government levels,” she added.

The PM also rejected the charges by Team Anna as “canard and falsehoods” from persons “opposed to us” and asked party cadres to effectively tackle these allegations against the party and government.

“The misinformation being spread by disparate,desperate elements,unified only by their opposition to our government,needs to be tackled effectively,” Singh said,addressing the CWC. “It is very important for all leaders and workers of the Congress party to educate the public.”

Raising the lakhs of crores being mentioned in course of alleged scams,the PM said: “Everyday one hears of astronomical sums of black money that can be brought back in one stroke. It is alleged that in every area of its activity,our government has swindled unbelievable amounts of money. Nothing can be farther from the truth.”

The UPA government was “fully committed to tackle the menace of corruption in public life,and to bring about transparency and accountability in the work of government authorities”,he said,pointing out “the legislative and administrative action” taken by them.

The PM,however,admitted that times were tough. “These are difficult times for our country and for our economy,caused to a very large extent by circumstances over which we have little or no control. These are times when our will and determination are being tested,” he said,adding that “we must stay the course” and “have faith in ourselves”.

Admitting “pressure on balance of payments”,Singh cautioned that “the fiscal situation has to be carefully managed”. The “uncertainties” in the global economy and rising prices of commodities like crude oil were putting pressure on the government’s fiscal situation,he reiterated.

At the same time,the PM noted that India’s growth rate was “one of the highest in the world”. He also stressed that poverty had declined “faster” during the UPA regime than in the NDA government.

The CWC meet also passed a unanimous resolution authorising Sonia to select candidates for the forthcoming presidential and vice-presidential elections. Incidentally,the resolution was moved by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,believed to be one of the contenders in the race.