JAIPUR: Prime minister Manmohan Singh has expressed hope that the Jaipur chintan shivir will give a new direction to the party.
Addressing workers on the last day of the meeting here, Manmohan Singh highlighted the achievements of the UPA government.
The government has fulfilled most of the promises made in 2004 and 2009, the PM said.
Manmohan stressed the need to improve communication strategy to ensure the good work done by the government is made known to the people.
The PM claimed that poverty had gone down under the UPA rule and said it is important to tell the people how they have benefited from the central schemes.
The PM said the UPA government had done better than the previous NDA government.
Speaking on the recent tension at the LoC, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said we want friendship with our neighbour, but for that they will also have to make an effort.
Earlier, Congress president Sonia Gandhi outlined the road ahead for the party.
Expressing happiness at the large participation of youth leaders, she said it was a positive sign for the party.
Sonia said the party must lead the 'struggle' to counter the effect of corruption.
"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.
She said corruption was the main concern of the nation when the party held its session at Burari in July 2011 and the party has moved on with a five-point agenda to deal with corruption.
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," she said.
Referring to the brutal gang-rape in the national capital that shook the nation, Gandhi described the victim as a symbol of women and children who suffer from similar fates.
Her death would not go in vain, she said and added that every woman and every girl has a fundamental right to be secure and safe in the country.
Sonia vowed to take personal initiative to see that women are adequately represented in the Parliament.
She also objected to some of the outrageous comments made by certain politicians, adding that:"We can not tolerate mindsets that lead to crimes against women. Every woman, every girl in our country has the fundamental right to be secure and safe."
"I will personally continue to press for the Women's Reservation Bill which will allow 1/3rd reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures," she said.
Sonia Gandhi also stressed the need for electoral reforms in her speech.
She also highlighted the achievements of the UPA government.
The draft Jaipur declaration of the Congress party has called on all secular and progressive forces to unite in ideological battle against those who polarize and divide society.
The draft says that the party will go to the people on the basis of performance of UPA govt, the promise of stability and good governance and restatement of its core values.
(With inputs from agencies)
UPA has fulfilled most of the promises made in 2004, 2009: PM
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UPA has fulfilled most of the promises made in 2004, 2009: PM
