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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Pro-reform push in Congress show of strength today

Pro-reform push in Congress show of strength today

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published Published on Nov 4, 2012   modified Modified on Nov 4, 2012
-The Times of India

Congress will hold a massive rally on Sunday to defend its decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, in what will showcase government's new assertiveness on reforms and the backing extended by the Congress brass in the face of populist criticism that giant retailers will harm farmers' interests and pop and mom stores.

The party has, especially its units in Delhi and neighbouring Haryana, have pulled out all stops to ensure an impressive turnout at the event which is being seen as leadership's desire to fight its way out of the troubles that have beset the UPA regime.

Although the rally will also mark a retaliatory strike against Opposition's offensive on corruption and other issues, it stands apart from similar political shows because of the bold advocacy for the reforms measure. Although dithering on the cap on subsidized cooking gas and support price for wheat may suggest that the FDI decision is not the swallow which will make for a reforms summer, the rally marks a clear break from the more typical "reforms-by-stealth" approach favoured by the political establishment.

It has been conceived as an unapologetic statement, the tone having been set by Sonia who has said FDI will link farmers to markets while lower prices will benefit consumers. She has attacked BJP for being "anti-farmer".

The droves, who are to be ferried by buses from Delhi and Haryana, are also expected to a demonstration of party's plan to take the battle over corruption and other issues to the rivals' turf.

At the receiving end of a barrage of attacks from foes ranging from Opposition BJP to anti-graft activists, the Congress leadership is expected to use to platform for hitting back at critics by defending UPA's performance and rebutting corruption charges at a rally here on Sunday.

Along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi is billed to be the star draw at the show of strength. Coming among indications of his imminent elevation, the rally will be an important platform for Rahul Gandhi. His comments on raging controversies regarding corruption scandals, reforms, welfare initiatives like bills for land acquisition and rehabilitation and food security are eagerly awaited.

Aware that the meeting is a much anticipated moment, a galaxy of senior ministers, the "Rahul brigade" and organizational bosses are expected to attend the rally at Delhi's landmark Ram Lila Ground.

The buzz over the rally has sharpened as it comes in the wake of fresh allegations of improper use of party funds in a trust run by Sonia and Rahul, India against corruption charges of tainted land deals involving Sonia's son-in-law Robert Vadra and controversies like Coalgate.

Congress's defence against corruption charges was partly outlined by Sonia in rallies in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh where she charged BJP with being insincere on corruption — exposes on Nitin Gadkari's business affairs allowing the ruling party to hit back at its rival. On the other hand, Congress has pointed to resignations of leaders tainted by corruption as evidence of its sensitivity to the scourge.

Congress needs to strongly fight back on corruption as allegations of sweet heart deals and crony capitalism threaten to hurt its effort to pitch reforms as the need of the hour to beat a global slowdown and ensure high levels of growth to fund welfare programmes and boost employment.

At the same time, the consensus on reforms can be shaken as Sonia's intervention in hiking the bar for land acquisition and a quick midnight rollback on hike in cooking gas prices makes all too clear. New oil minister Veerappa Moily has hinted that the six cylinder cap on LPG can also be relaxed.

Sonia is keenly conscious of her commitment to "pro-poor" schemes and her projection as a caring mother figure among the disadvantaged sections. She has been skeptical of measures to exclude or prune beneficiaries of welfare programme on the grounds that such efforts only end up hurting the needy and dispossessed.

Welfare impulses are likely to reassert themselves periodically while the PM and finance minister P Chidambaram are insistent that there can be no slackening in the reforms process, arguing stunted growth will cripple UPA in the next general election.

The forceful advocacy of reforms as being needed not only to stave off a damaging sovereign downgrade at the hands of rating agencies but to also to ensure purported vote getting programmes like rural roads, drinking water, housing, food security, health and urban renewal are not strangled by lack of funds has proved effective so far.

The Times of India, 4 November, 2012, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pro-reform-push-in-Congress-show-of-strength-today/articleshow/17080919.cms


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