Fulfil promises of 2009 manifesto: Sonia to govt

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday said that those in the government should strive hard to fulfil unfulfilled promises in the 2009 manifesto.

She further said that Congress detractors wanted to grab power at any cost, notwithstanding that their greed would weaken democracy and secular values. She also conceded that the government had to take certain decisions due to economic slowdown because of which common man faced difficulties.


With an attempt to chalk out a strategy for the next Lok Sabha polls, the Congress top brass Friday huddled in Surajkund, Haryana to deliberate on political and economic issues at a time when the party and the government are facing tough challenges.

As the UPA-II witnessed a series of scams and one of its key allies Trinamool Congress walked out of the alliance, the Congress leadership including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi will decide the future course of action.

The meet attended by top central ministers and Congress Working Committee members will also see the party reviewing the extent of implementation of the promises made in its manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Rahul Gandhi, who is set to assume a "larger role" in the organisation, is attending the session amid indications that the party reshuffle, which is due, would have the imprint of the young leader.

The exercise has come amid concerns within the party over "limitations" in implementing party's programmes and agenda in a coalition government. The Prime Minister had time and again talked about coalition compulsions in governance.

In an apparent move to send out a message of austerity, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi Friday took a bus ride along with other leaders to Surajkund in Haryana.