Cong hails PM's call to industrialists

New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) The Congress today welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call to industrialists to avoid conspicuous consumption and to contribute their mite in the welfare of the deprived sections of the society.

Congress Spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi told mediapersons here that the Prime Minister had in his speech yesterday talked of 10-point plan of action. Consistent with the Congress policies he had appealed to the industrialists to discharge their social responsibility, observe economic restraint and to avoid conspicuous consumption.

The Prime Minister, he said, had stressed the welfare of the labour class and the need for the equitable distribution of resources to the deprived sections. He had also appealed to them to provide job opportunities to the socially and educationally backward class. ''We expect that this will be positively responded. We welcome his speech.'' Asked whether this indicated a call to the private sector to reserve some jobs for the SCs, STs, he said, ''We would like to have it by persuasion.'' About whether the party supported Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's call for reservation for the economically weaker sections in the upper castes, he said the party was never opposed to reservation for weaker sections. However, this was a subject for debate. All parties should arrive at a consensus on the subject.

Replying to a question about the recommendation made in a report submitted to the Government asking for reservation in jobs to religious minorities like Christians and Muslims, Mr Chaturvedi said this had a wide-ranging implication. It could not be decided by one party.It would be premature to discuss it and there should be consensus on the issue among the political parties.

UNI