Tuesday, March 29 2005 14:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Asserting that the Union Budget 2005-06 demonstrates party's commitment to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi said it strikes a balance between the economic reforms process and the interests of the common man.

"We have tried to balance the demands of economic reform while keeping the common man at the forefront," she said in her message to Congress workers in party mouthpiece 'Congress Sandesh'.

Lauding the efforts of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, she said, "Our Prime Minister and Finance Minister have shown the party's commitment to the CMP. This is committed to the middle path."

The party remains committed to eradication of poverty and the increased resource allocation for agriculture, health and education is an indicator to this objective, she said.

At the same time, the party does not believe in curtailing entrepreneurial spirit of the country, which is poised to become one of the leading economies of the world, Sonia said.

"And for that it needs to ensure that its Government follows policies that lead to the widest dissemination of the fruits of economic growth and at the same time implements policies that allow us to compete adequately with the opportunities being provided by the world market," she said.

Pointing out that party's slogan 'Congress ka haath, aam admi ke saath' (Congress is with the common man), was their main aim, Sonia said that it is the duty of the party men to ensure proper implementation of the pro-poor reform programmes initiated by the Government.

She said that it must be ensured that programmes for the benefit of the poor are implemented so that policies translate into practice and corruption does not take over subsidies.

"Those we want to empower do not once again get left behind. This is what we expect from our frontal organisations and from our cadres," Sonia said.

"Let the people know that we stand by their needs and represent their interests because we, the Congress party, believe in them and are willing to work towards making India like Gandhiji wanted it into an equitable, prosperous and a secular country," she added.

On the results of Assembly polls in Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana, the Congress chief said party's victory in Haryana was due to its strong organisation right up from the grass root level.

However, she said, "Where Bihar and Jharkhand elections are concerned, we must sit down and take stock of our weak performance."