JOIN USSeveral Congress leaders on Friday demanded at the party conclave at Surajkund that the government should consult the party while taking key decisions.
They pointed out that the organisation can give valuable inputs on the content or timing of such decisions.
Referring to the controversial decision to cap the number of subsidised LPG cylinders at six per family, the leaders said timing of the announcement was not proper. “The decision was announced on September 13 at a time when Himachal Pradesh was to go for elections on November 4. We (party) would not have allowed it if we were consulted.
Now, there is a talk of roll back. What message are we sending?” asked one party functionary.
Besides, it was demanded that the party sets aside 33 per cent of the posts for women and 20 per cent for the weaker sections in various like the district Congress committees. Hardly any DCC has adhered to it, sources said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi said there was a need for ministers to “listen to the suggestions and concerns of the party workers when they approach them.” She pointed out that there were occasions when many party workers felt dissatisfied after their colleagues in the government did not pay due attention to them.
Gandhi remarked: “Being Congress workers, we are members of a family. It is quite natural that we come across situations when we need to maintain a balance between fulfilling responsibility for the party and the government. For this, it is necessary to have an effective platform for mutual interaction and today’s Samvad Baithak is one such platform.”
“Ministers should always invite party workers to the programmes they attend in various states. They should also visit the party offices during such tours and meet party workers. They should keep these things in mind, especially when they visit states ruled by the Opposition,” she said.
“Sometimes, party leaders are dissatisfied as the ministers do not pay attention to their concerns and suggestions,” said Gandhi.
“There should be a continuous dialogue between the leaders and those in the government.”