Union ministers of the Congress (Cabinet rank and MoS holding independent charge) and CWC members (nominated and permanent invitees) were invited to the Congress party’s samvad baithak (dialogue meeting) meeting at Surajkund, Haryana, on Friday, but Mr Dinsha Patel, Mr Chiranjeevi, Mr Vilas Muttemwar and Mr M.V. Rajsekharan could not attend. The Congress held this “mini chintan shivir” after holding a “Maha Rally” at the Ramlila grounds in Delhi last Sunday and after a Cabinet reshuffle. The next step will be an organisational reshuffle.
The party’s proposed “chintan shivir” may throw light on the continuance of the UPA. Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi briefed reporters Friday evening about the “dialogue meeting”. While the mood of the Surajkund meeting was of government presenting a “please-all” Budget for 2013-14, the main suggestion was to strengthen the organisation for the Lok Sabha election. It saw leaders underlining the need to come out with a Budget and programmes that would give maximum returns in minimum time.
Party sources said a senior leader said the AICC should immediately set up a five-member committee to receive suggestions on such programmes and schemes that should be incorporated in the Union Budget for the next year.
The meeting also saw some senior leaders expre-ssing unhappiness about the emphasis on the growth rate. One leader said the common man does not understand the statistics of GDP growth. Defence minister A.K. Antony is learnt to have expressed concern over the handling of natural resources, saying, “We cannot deal with the natural resources of the country in the manner in which we have dealt with it so far.”
The PM, however, expre-ssed confidence that the government’s “good economic policies will give strength to good politics”. “The need is that we keep confidence in ourselves and work hard unitedly and dedicatedly (sic),” he said, adding that despite the economic constraints, the flagship programmes for the welfare of the people would continue unaffected. Dr Singh’s refrain was that there was a “need for a better climate” for investors, domestic and international, as greater investment had a direct bearing on economic development.