Date:26/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/26/stories/2008072652610300.htm

New Delhi

Reforms not at cost of aam aadmi: Moily

Gargi Parsai

Congress preparing to go to people on nuclear deal, inflation

NEW DELHI: The All-India Congress Committee has sought to allay fears over the government fast-tracking the reforms process and of the Common Minimum Programme being altered, now that the Left is out of the process of governance.

“Just because the Left parties have left the government, nothing should be done to assault the aam aadmi. The Common Minimum Programme too would not be altered. This will be our advice to the government,” senior Congress leader and AICC media committee chairman M. Veerappa Moily said here.

He said the CMP was not a Left-dictated programme. It was a United Progressive Alliance CMP for the country.

He, however, emphasised that whatever steps were necessary to resolve the questions of economic reforms or to reach out to the common man would be taken up on priority.

The party was now preparing to go to the people on the India-U.S. nuclear agreement and aam aadmi issues including steps taken by the government to tackle inflation. Early next month the AICC media cell would host a workshop for spokespersons in the States on how to communicate the party’s achievements to people. This would be followed by five zonal workshops in Guwahati, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati would have to make up her mind on whether she had confidence in the CBI or not.

“Over the last six months, she has recommended more than 10 cases to the CBI, but when it comes to her, she cries vendetta.”