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Taming inflation top priority: Rahul
Sanjeev Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 21
Expressing confidence that the Congress would bounce back from the recent electoral reverses, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said beating inflation was the top priority of the UPA government. The regulatory environment needed to be revamped for faster industrial growth, he added.

Addressing the valedictory session of the 86th annual general meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here today, Rahul laid out his economic vision to captains of industry on various issues, including labour laws, manufacturing, environment, education, skill development etc.

Admitting that the Congress did not do well in the recent Assembly elections, he said, “The recently held elections have made their point. We will listen to the voices we represent. The Congress has long prided itself in this very ability and used it to rise from adversity time and again. We will renew ourselves.”

Identifying beating inflation as the government’s top priority, he said high inflation on the back of high food prices was an immediate concern. It has stretched household budgets and constrained industrial growth. “It hurts our people every day. Beating inflation is our top priority. We must crack down on hoarding and profiteering,” he added.

Unfolding his economic agenda for achieving higher growth to match aspirations of modern India, he said corruption was bleeding the people dry and it was an unacceptable burden on the people. The Congress, he said, has appealed for the passage of six crucial anti-corruption Bills, prominent among those being an amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Grievance Redressal Bill, to protect honest officers and ensure that every citizen had the right to timely delivery of goods and services. Adding that convicted legislators have been kept out of Parliament, Rahul conceded that it was not polite to tear the ordinance. The UPA government, he said, has done more than any other government to combat corruption as it gave to the people of India the RTI Act, thus creating a new paradigm that has brought transparency.

‘Elections have made their point’

The recently held elections have made their point. We will listen to the voices we represent. The Congress has long prided itself in this very ability and used it to rise from adversity time and again. We will renew ourselves.

Rahul Gandhi, Cong Vice-President