Sonia defends PM, stresses Congress unity

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi Monday defended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against "unfounded allegations" and also called for an end to infighting within the party.

In comments directed at both the opposition and civil society, Gandhi told the Congress Working Committee (CWC) that the party needed to start preparing for the 2014 general elections.

"The manner in which the opposition and some anti-Congress elements are single mindedly levelling unfounded allegations against the PM and the UPA government is really unfortunate," she said.

Gandhi asked party workers to shun factionalism and highlighted the need to prepare for the next Lok Sabha ballot two years away as well as elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

"If we utilise half the energy we spend on infighting, we would be able to double our strength," she said. "We need to get ready for the Lok Sabha elections in 2014."

Gandhi also flagged the need to strengthen the party.

"We need to strengthen the party at all levels... but most importantly we have to work unitedly," said Gandhi.

She cautioned fellow leaders that people will treat them guided by the image they form of the party. "It will be a big mistake to miss this fact."

Gandhi's comments come in the backdrop of the opposition's and Team Anna's allegations of corruption in allocation of coal blocks during 2006-09 when the prime minister headed the coal ministry.

Stating that the opposition had a right to criticise the government in a democracy, Gandhi saw a "conspiracy" behind the allegations on the UPA government and the Congress.

"The the recent baseless allegations against the prime minister, the UPA and the party seem to be part of a conspiracy."

Stating the states were largely responsible for implementing central government welfare policies, Gandhi said non-Congress governments were not cooperating fully.

Besides Manmohan Singh, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi also attended the meeting along party chief ministers, state party presidents as well as special and permanent invitees.