The confrontation between the Centre and civil society groups is set to intensify with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejecting Team Anna’s charge that the government had “swindled unbelievable amounts” of money.
While the PM hit back at yoga guru Ramdev for claiming that “astronomical” sums of black money can be brought back from other countries in one stroke, a combative Congress president Sonia Gandhi made a scathing attack on the Opposition and civil society groups for levelling “baseless” allegations against the Prime Minister and the party.
The two leaders spelt out party strategy with regard to the Opposition and civil society groups at an extended Congress Working Committee meeting at the Parliament Annexe here Monday.
The meeting lasted over five hours.
Though price rise and corruption dominated, the speeches of Dr Singh and Mrs Gandhi made it clear that the party will take on the Opposition and Team Anna head-on, together.
As many as 42 of the total 98 leaders at the meeting spoke, criticising the steep hike in petrol prices, growing corruption and the style of functioning of the party’s Union ministers.
According to sources, even leaders of Congress allies — NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee — came under attack from Congress leaders from Maharashtra and West Bengal. Some members also criticised CAG Vinod Rai.
The CWC also authorised Mrs Gandhi to decide the candidates for the coming presidential and vice-presidential elections.
After the CWC meeting, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi briefed the media.
Meanwhile, addressing the CWC, meeting the Prime Minister said “canards and falsehoods” were being spread by “disparate” and “desperate” elements, and asked the party cadre to effectively tackle the “misinformation”.