In a “letter to Congressmen” in the latest issue of party mouthpiece Congress Sandesh, Ms Gandhi said her party was greatly concerned over the price rise, to control which both the Centre and states would have to play their roles.
“Strengthening of the public distribution system is something that the state governments are responsible for and is something that they must make a priority. Similarly, it is the state governments that have the powers to control black marketing and hoarding just as the Central government has the power to control speculation,” she said.
“These powers have to be exercised so that the price rise does not affect the aam aadmi,” she added. Ms Gandhi highlighted the Rs 60,000-crore farmers’ loan waiver announced in the Union Budget, and said it would “liberate” farmers from the “burden of indebtness” and ensure the supply of fresh credit from banks and financial institutions.
She repeated her appeal to party workers to “sustain” unity and discipline at all levels of party organisation if Congress had to win the polls.