Tech-based economic policy needed: Pranab

CHANDIGARH, March 29: AICC General Secretary Pranab Mukherjee today stressed on the need to adopt an economic policy with a technical and...

CHANDIGARH, March 29: AICC General Secretary Pranab Mukherjee today stressed on the need to adopt an economic policy with a technical and scientific base in view of the global developments.

Inaugurating the three-day North Zone Regional Orientation camp of the Indian Youth Congress at Indira Holiday Home in Sector 24 here today, Mukherjee said, 8220;Integration of economy with global development can be achieved by building a technical base rather than depending on external support.8221;

He charged the BJP-led Central government with adopting 8220;disastrous8221; economic policies, and added that the Pokharan tests were not the result of a 40-day miracle but that its foundation stone was laid by the Congress which formulated the nation8217;s scientific policy.

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led coalition, Mukherjee said the Congress alone could provide a viable and stable government which could fulfil the aspirations of the public. He called for a probe into the allegations by Mohan Guruswamy. The camp is being attended by Youth Congress office-bearers and workers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.

Indian Youth Congress president Manish Tewari said the camp was organised to help the workers know about the party8217;s working and the know-how to implement the party8217;s programmes.

Earlier, Chandigarh Youth Congress president Chander Mukhi Sharma welcomed the gathering. Chandigarh Territorial Congress president Venod Sharma was also present at the inauguration. The camp was also attended by Himachal YC president Sukhvinder Sukhu, Punjab YC president Devinder Babbu and Jamp;K president Yogesh Sahni.

Meanwhile, delivering a talk on Instability and its Impact on Economy8217;, organised by Pawan Kumar Bansal at Panjab University, the former Union Minister called for an all-party common minimum economic programme boosting development in the country. He said that there should be greater continuity in the economic schemes for the nation, notwithstanding political changes. Mukherjee said that the nature of the common minimum economic programme could be decided once the political parties reached a consensus on the idea.

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Quoting figures, he said that long-term national interests were being ignored when budget estimates were higher than the planned expenditure. Citing example of 1970s when late Indira Gandhi was in power but lacked absolute majority at Centre, Mukherjee said that the Congress had brought about drastic economic changes. It was basically the question of will to do things, he added.

Referring to India8217;s relations with Pakistan, he said that the problems could be solved bilaterally, across the table, and not by third party intervention. Former local MP Pawan Bansal welcomed the party leader.