Date:21/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/21/stories/2008022160821200.htm

National

Congress to continue scrutiny of U.P. government

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress will continue to play the role of a “constructive opposition” in Uttar Pradesh and Rahul Gandhi will address a rally in Allahabad later this month, notwithstanding Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati’s meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday. Congress Working Committee member and general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh Digvijay Singh said here on Wednesday that there would be no let-up in the party’s “hisab do” (give account) campaign in the State. “The first phase of our programme will end on April 30, after which we will review our strategy.”

“We will continue to look at the acts of omission and commission of the U.P. government. Our workers will go to mandals and villages to see whether the Central government’s programmes were being implemented or not. They will examine whether the below poverty line population lists are correct, whether the public distribution system is functional, if the old-age pension is being disbursed and whether the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme is being implemented.” “If the government is performing, we will say so,” he said. On Sunday Ms. Mayawati met Ms. Gandhi. Chairman of the AICC Media Committee M. Veerappa Moily on Wednesday described the meeting as a “courtesy call.”