No going back on reforms: UPA

Congress asserts no rollbacks, may at best review decisions and tweak them a bit

Opposition BJP may have lashed out at the UPA alleging that its suden economic reforms spree was a diversionary tactic to take away the spotlight from the ‘Coalgate’ scam, but the Congress led UPA dismisses any such ‘idle speculation.’

Congress senior leaders categorically state the government is firm in its resolve to go ahead and implement its recent policy reforms and “more such log pending policy initiatives” would be unfurled.

However with allies like Trinamool Congress stringently opposing the diesel price hike and the cap on LPG cylinders, a “review is possible but not a rollback”, say Congress leaders.

Congress sources indicate that the government could for instance to assuage its allies take the step to increase the cap on cylinders from 6 to 8 and the steep Rs 5 hike may also be relaxed by a rupee or more but a complete roll back of these decisions is not on the anvil.

As a Congress senior leader categorically stated, “The reforms will not be halted due to political reasons.” What we can consider is review or a relook but not a roll back, he added.

Elaborating on the government stand, the leader said, “We have waited for long to bring everyone on board on policy decisions but it has only aggravated the economic crisis. Now we cannot dillydally any further. We will gradually also bring in the long pending tax reforms. We need a competitive environment which will propel our economic growth and this cannot be held ransom any longer to politics.”