Pranab-Cong leaders pre-budget meet: concern over scams, price

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) Concerns over a series of scams,price rise and farmers''s poor plight echoed in the pre-budgetconsultations today held by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjeewith senior Congress leaders at the AICC headquarters heretoday.

Sources said Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyarexpressed concern at growing corruption in the country anduneven distritbution of wealth. He also expressed concern overinflation and emphasized the need to provide succour to thecommon man.

Aiyar is learnt to have noted that the country remainsat 134th position in Human Development Index (HDI)despite somuch money spent on development in the last fifteen years. Healso stressed on the need to streamline expenditure.

One of the party MPs raised the issue of SpecialEconomic Zone and expressed concern that the land being takenfrom farmers on nominal price for industrial development isgoing to real state mafias, frustrating the very purpose ofthe policy.

The issue of Iron Ore Mafias active in tribal areaswas also raised in the meeting.

Senior party leader Mohsina Kidwai and Shakeel-ur-ZamaAnsari highlighted the pitiable condition of weavers anddemanded that the excise duty on such items should be reducedand the export of yarn should be stopped, sources said.

Deep concern was expressed over suicides by weaversin Andhra Pradesh. Aiyar also supported the members on theseissues.

Party MPs Prabha Thakur and Jayanthi Natarajan raisedthe issue of crime against women and voiced child-relatedconcerns. (more) PTI AMR