NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at a meeting of party MPs here on Thursday, underlined the need for dispelling wrong impressions about parliamentarians.

Sharing her anguish at the recent sting operations that "damaged the public image and standing of MPs and of Parliament itself," Ms. Gandhi said these called for introspection and a firm commitment to the enforcement of the code of ethics laid down for MPs.

"This means scrupulous adherence to the norms to prevent a conflict of interests and to the disclosure requirements that are clearly stipulated. All of you must inform yourselves of the existing codes of conduct and conflict of interest rules and take it upon yourselves to follow them in letter and in spirit," she said in her valedictory address to the general body of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Referring to the MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), she said there was a widespread impression that its funds were not being utilised properly. While stating that many party MPs were using the funds properly, she suggested: "it is now up to all of us individually and collectively to dispel mistaken notions of large-scale misuse."

Dr. Singh also referred to the MPLADS and said it was for the MPs to see that their own scheme was implemented properly. He asked them to work to dispel the wrong notions that spread about it. "We cannot afford to let the people have any wrong impressions about us."

While the United Progressive Alliance Government had a good track record because it was honouring the promises it made, much of the burden of ensuring proper implementation of schemes was on the State Governments. "Our MPs must act as watchdogs and custodians of these programmes to ensure that they are implemented in the desired manner," Dr. Singh said.

Referring to next month's AICC plenary in Hyderabad, Ms. Gandhi said that after the Tirupati session it would be the first such event when the Congress was in power at the Centre. It would be an occasion for discussing the challenges confronting the party.

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