Party firmly behind PM, says Sonia

NEW DELHI - Congress president Sonia Gandhi Monday praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his wise leadership and unwavering devotion to the country’s progress and said the party firmly backed him.

Gandhi twice referred to the prime minister in her address to party MPs while blaming the opposition, mainly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for the unproductive winter session of parliament.

In spite of some forces placing formidable obstacles to good governance under the prime minister’s leadership, India has weathered the international financial crisis that crippled so much of the global economy. Economic growth revived after a short hiatus and we have recorded 8.9 percent growth in GDP in the first half of 2010-11, Gandhi said.

She said people had high expectations from the central government.

We have to work with greater determination in order to deliver on our promises and redeem our pledges to them. I compliment Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his wise leadership, for remaining calm amidst storm, and for his unwavering devotion to the progress and prosperity of the nation. The party stands solidly behind him in his endeavours.

Gandhi rejected the opposition demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the 2G spectrum allocation controversy. She said the government had nothing to hide and was determined to get to the bottom of the matter.