Sonia demands report card from Manmohan

Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting here, she asked the government to 'monitor' the prices of essential commodities and 'wheat situation'.

"The wheat situation needs to be monitored. While we must ensure that there are sufficient buffer stocks, the interests of wheat growers must be protected from the impact of any large-scale imports," she said while addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting here.

She, however, steered clear of the controversial issue of reservation to the OBCs in higher educational institutions.

The meet was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, among others.

Addressing the issue of price hike, the UPA chairperson said, "I am sure the government is closely monitoring the situation, and will not allow the prices of essential commodities to be subject to speculation on the fate of the monsoon."

The UPA allies' long standing demand for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers also got support from the UPA chairperson today. "I know how concerned the PM is on agriculture and I am confident that these recommendations will be implemented with a sense of urgency," she said.

There had been much talk on social security for workers in the unorganised sector and "it is time for some concrete policy actions," said the Congress president, echoing the oft-expressed views of the Left on the delay in bringing a legislation for the welfare of unorganised sector workers.

She said the issue regarding the wage rate to be paid under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act would have to be settled soon in a just and fair manner while ensuring that there was no adverse impact on this important and vital programme.

The Congress will hold a convention of the DCC presidents from the 200 districts where the NREG Act has been implemented, on May 26 to review the activities of the DCCs, PCCs and frontal organisations in the implementation of the Act.

She spoke on a range of other issues including legislations like the one relating to the removal of cess on export of agricultural products, 'insensitive and blatantly partisan' nature of Gujarat administration that led to communal riots in Vadodara, Naxalite violence, interim relief to the citizens of Delhi from demolitions and the recent Assembly elections.

She exhorted the CPP members to double their efforts to ensure good results in the next round of Assembly elections - in Punjab, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh - likely to be held in the next six to seven months.