Sonia Gandhi chides central ministers for ignoring partymen

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi today pulled up central ministers for "not paying heed" to party men in states ruled by non-Congress governments and "demoralising" them.

"Many party workers in non-Congress states have complained to me that our ministers at the Centre do not fully appreciate their concerns. They make a valid point.

"Such neglect is demoralising for our workers who function in a hostile environment," the 64-year-old Congress president said addressing the party plenary, being attended by several Union ministers and chief ministers among others.

She directed the central ministers to engage with local party leadership and workers during their visits.

Observing that a "new situation" had arisen in states which were not ruled by Congress, Gandhi said the UPA government was transferring "unprecedented funds to all states without discrimination".

Asking Congressmen to create an awareness of the Centre's role in creating and funding various schemes, she directed party workers in non-Congress states to "counter any effort by the opposition to take credit for them and mislead the people".

In an effort to rejuvenate the party organisation, she said it was the primary responsibility of those in office to be sensitive to the voices coming from the party organisation and ranks.

"Party workers must be seriously heard and listened to. We must not forget that it is the ordinary worker who is our ear on the ground, our hand on the pulse of the common man," Gandhi said.

Turning to the recent assembly polls in Bihar where the party received a drubbing, she said the election outcome has demonstrated that there was no alternative to earnestly beginning the process of reviving the party organisation from the grassroots.

"There are no shortcuts. The road ahead will be long and arduous, but we will persevere and we will succeed. This is no time for despondency. This is a time for constructive action including in those states where we are in coalition," Gandhi said.