The Prime Minister on Tuesday said that effective steps for welfare of the poor cannot be taken unless the economy was strong. Dr Manmohan Singh said that the government will continue to take measures for the poor and the disadvantaged in league with the Congress policies for development and welfare of the common man. Dr Singh gave this assurance to Congress Working Committee, CWC, which also endorsed government's new economic reforms' decisions.

The endorsement came at the first meeting of the CWC in New Delhi today, after Trinamool Congress walked out of UPA with the Congress President Sonia Gandhi saying, the reforms were very necessary and the government has begun the moves in that direction.

Briefing the media persons after the meet, Congress general secretary, Janardan Dwivedi said that Mrs Gandhi also criticized BJP for playing negative politics, saying the main opposition party should play the role of a responsible opposition as was done by Congress when it was not in power.

At the meeting, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that unless the country's economic condition was sound, the government would not be in a position to implement the flagship programmes of UPA, targeted at the poor.

Some participants also suggested that rallies should be held at district level to convince the people about the need to bring in reforms measures.