Friday, February 25 2005 21:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today (Feb 25, 2005) sought to allay the fears of supporting Left parties ahead of the Union Budget by asserting that her party was "very sensitive" to the challenges of running a coalition Government accommodating diverse points of view.

"Contrary to our detractors' expectations, the coalition has worked well. We in the Congress have been very sensitive to the challenges of running a coalition Government, accommodating diverse points of view so as to ensure its cohesive functioning. We will continue to do so," she told a general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Reminding the members that the next few days would be hectic in view of the presentation of the General and Railway Budget, Gandhi said she was in touch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the pledges made in the party's manifesto in key areas like elementary education, public health, employment, welfare of farmers and agricultural labourers, women and child development, handloom weavers and rural infrastructure.

The Prime Minister and his Ministerial colleagues attended the meeting.

AICC (All India Congress Committee) office bearers and MPs associated with finance-related parliamentary committees have also interacted with the Finance Minister.

"I am confident that the budget will fully reflect our manifesto's commitments," Gandhi remarked.