Sonia speaks on terrorism, skips N-deal at rally

Panipat (Haryana), Oct 2 (IANS) On a day when the India-US nuclear deal was passed by the US Senate, ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi made only a passing reference to it at a public rally here and instead hit out at those 'who try to make political gains' from terrorism.

Addressing the Samajik Kranti rally in this industrial city, 100 km from Delhi, Gandhi said nothing about the deal being clinched.

'Our country is progressing well under the leadership of (Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh. I hope that the nuclear deal and its technology will help in power generation. We will move ahead with it,' Gandhi said.

The UPA government led by Manmohan Singh faced a tough vote of confidence in July this year in parliament over the nuclear deal issue. It brought the government to the verge of being voted out after the Left parties withdrew support.

Instead of the nuclear deal, Gandhi spent more time dwelling on terrorism and the steps being taken by the Congress-led UPA government for weaker sections of society.

'Our country is facing a big danger from terrorism. There are some people who are trying to make political gains from terrorism. We will have to be cautious against such people. These are the biggest enemies of the country,' Gandhi said.

Dressed in a cream-coloured printed sari, Gandhi said Panipat was Thursday witness to a historic scheme being launched under which members of Scheduled Castes and below poverty line (BPL) families were being given 100 square yards plots free of cost in rural areas by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in the state.

'Our (Congress') success is in helping the weakest sections in our society. This is what the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi was. It is a historic occasion that such a scheme is being launched on his birthday,' Gandhi said.

The UPA chairperson said that Haryana and Punjab had seen development due to the policies of Congress governments. 'Our steps should not stop here. We have to move further,' she added.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, central minister Selja and other Congress leaders were present at the rally.