Rediff

Washington, Nov 17: Bobby Jindal, Indian-American Governor of Louisiana, has asked fellow members of the Republican Party to be gracious and work across party lines but at the same time stand up to their principles.

"I think the challenge for the Republican Party is to be gracious, work across party lines, every chance we can, but to stand on principle when we disagree with the new administration, but most importantly, to offer real solutions," Jindal said.

Congratulating Democrat Barack Obama [Images] for his victory in the United States Presidential election, Jindal suggested that the Grand Old Party retain public trust to get back on track in the future.

"When voters tell us that they trust Democrats more to cut their taxes, control spending, that tells you something is wrong with the Republican Party. We've got to match our actions with our rhetoric," Jindal said on CBS' Face The Nation programme.

The Republican Governor, who was reluctant to commit himself as a potential candidate for the presidential elections of 2012, was expressing his views not only on the elections of 2008 but on the future of the Grand Old Party.

"...We've got to stop defending the kinds of corruption we would rightfully criticise in the other party. The week before the election, our most senior senator is convicted on federal charges. And that's only the latest example."                                                                                                                

Asking party members to pursue the party principles, Jindal urged the Republicans to come out with real solutions to the problems of the American people.

"We don't need to abandon our conservative principles," Jindal said, adding, "We need to offer real solutions on making health care more affordable, on the economic challenges facing families and on the international threats."

"I think we're going to have a debate in this country. I'm opposed to a single-payer, government-run health care system. But that's not enough. We need to also show the American people that we're for tax credits, we're for using technology to emphasise preventative primary care, electronic patient records, so every American has access to affordable private coverage," he said.