Cong downplays Left statement on PM

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI)The Congress Party sought to downplay the criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by the Left Parties who asked him not to be callous towards people's miseries.

"We disagree with the Left parties on their comments about the Prime Minister. However, in democracy, each individual and institution has the right to express views freely and frankly," AICC Spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons.

On the strong objection raised by the Left parties on the contents of a letter received from the Prime Minister after a delegation of their leaders called on him to raise the issue of price rise and inflation, Dr Singhvi said Dr Manmohan Singh called for contributing to a productive solution to the problem.

"The Prime Minister did not name any individual or political parties in his statement," he pointed out.

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