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| Sonia talks tough, warns action | | Referring to terrorism, Congress president says country ready with befitting reply if war is thrust | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Uri/Doda, Dec 3: In her first ever public statement after the Mumbai terror attack, Congress President and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi today launched a veiled attack on Pakistan and said that country will offer a befitting reply if war is thrust upon.
Sonia, who addressed largely attended election rallies in border township of Uri in north Kashmir and hilly district headquarters of Doda in Jammu region, was well expected to make a statement on response of NDA government and Congress party on terrorism. Sonia also directed a message to separatist leadership asking them to take note of overwhelming participation of people in democratic process and join the dialogue process.
Without naming Pakistan, Sonia warned of severe action if a war was thrust upon the country. She was apparently referring to war in context of terror attacks launched in various parties of country with direct or indirect support of Pakistan. At the same time, the Congress president reminded that her party and the government led by it had taken a slew of measures in having friendly ties with the neighbor but a matching response from other side was missing.
Terror has no religion and there will be no compromise with those who are against humanity and human values, she added. "We are a peace loving country. Peace is imperative for the development of the country," she added.
Praising the people of Jammu and Kashmir for turning out in large numbers to vote in the Assembly election, Congress president said the separatists should respect the verdict of the masses who have posed their faith in democracy.
"I hope those who talk of boycott (of elections) will respect the verdict of the people and take the path of peace and development," Gandhi said addressing an election rally in Uri.
She lauded the people of the state for turning out in large numbers to vote in the first three phases of elections. "I congratulate the people of Jammu and Kashmir for taking active part in the elections. They have proved that they have faith in democracy," she said.
"We are ready for talks at any level within the framework of Constitution for the welfare of the people," she said. The Congress president said people should cast their votes based on the performance of the parties.
"We have come out with our report card which is in front of you. You should see the performance of others (parties) also and you will find that we (Congress) have done far better," she said.
Highlighting the achievements of the Congress-led coalition government in the state and UPA government at centre, Gandhi said "despite problems in Jammu and Kashmir, we have carried forward developmental works in the state."
She said the Congress-led government implemented the Wazir Commission report which was lying in the cold storage for many years. "This led to creation of smaller districts, resulting in better administration," she said. |
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