Sonia Gandhi tells party men: Go to the people and explain about our achievements

Congress President Sonia Gandhi while speaking on the concluding day of the Congress’ chintan shivir at Jaipur urged the party men to go the people and explain about government’s position on various affairs. She said that the Central government was forced to take some "harsh steps" because of the global economic slowdown.

"When the whole world was dealing with financial crisis, India was not that badly effected. But today even India is effected with global economic situation. That has forced our government to take some harsh steps," Sonia Gandhi said. The 'Chintan Shivir', the Congress party's introspective meet began here Jan 18 and concluded on Sunday.

"I know that (economic slowdown) has caused some problem to the common people, but our government should explain to the people the steps they have taken to deal with inflation," she said.

Calling corruption a "deep rooted malice", Congress president said the party must lead the 'struggle' to counter its effect. "Let me reiterate corruption at all levels is a deep rooted malice and all sections of society are effected by it. As a party we must lead struggle to combat its effect," Sonia Gandhi said.

Sonia Gandhi had earlier also said that corruption was the main concern of the nation when the party held its session at Burari in July 2011. She added that a five-point agenda to deal with corruption was given and the party has moved on with it. The key among the steps taken was introducing Lokpal bill in the parliament and introducing more transparency in process of allocating natural resources, said the Congress president. "We have introduced path breaking legislation for grievance redressal, whistle blowers, and historic 'apka paisa apke hath' (your money in your hands, the direct cash transfer scheme) initiative," said Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress party will always fight divisive forces and ideologies threatening the country's unity and integrity, added the party president. "We will always fight the ideologies and forces, which threaten the integrity and unity of the country, pol-arise our society and divide the people," she added.

"The Congress party is the prime symbol of unity and integrity. We are fully committed towards the emotional integrity of the country," said Sonia Gandhi.