Manmohan denounces his own reforms policy

Moving the economic resolution Singh said “our commitment to socialism is not hidebound and it is not as if we are stuck in the rhetoric of the past.” He argued that Congress is totally committed to the development of a progressive dynamic economic economy and a compassionate society which, while ensuring growth takes care of the need of the weakest people.

The fact that the BJP is trying to make a dent in the Congress support base by riding on these factors and Left and other smaller parties are busy espousing the cause of the poor, has unnerved the Congress leadership was perceptible at the session. The economic resolution tried to incorporate development of progressive dynamic economy with the ethical values that gave impetus to the freedom movement.

In a strategic move the session spelt out the reforms as a means for growth, self reliance and increased social justice, which according to it are essential for the eradication of poverty. The Congress president, Sitaram Kesri in an astute move to send the message across that the Congress was no more interested in pursuing the line of economic liberalisation chose Congressmen like Radhanandan Jha of Bihar, D P Yadav of up amongst participants in the debate to blast the concept of economic reforms and highlight the plight of the of the rural poor and downtrodden. A conscious attempt was made to keep away the leaders who were known votary of the economic reforms from the debate.

Singh while replying to the three hour debate, however confessed that “head and heart of the Congressmen are in the right place and they are worried and conscious of their role.” He welcomed the foreign investment, but at the same time confessed that infrastructure remains still in primitive stage and the situation could not be accepted.

The Golden Jubilee Resolution moved by Singh even blamed the Congress leadership for rejecting the All India Congress Committees recommendations of 1955. Singh pointed out that “the mistakes now being made arise out of the mindless rejection of the path charted at the Avadi session of the Congress in 1955. Economic reforms needs to built on the successes of the past.” Singh felt that reform process is jeopardised when discontinuities are deliberately engineered for partisan political reasons.