Sonia avoids nuke deal in Congress Sandesh

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has chosen to avoid any reference to the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement in her monthly chat with workers. In the latest issue of Congress Sandesh, the party mouthpiece that reflects official party thinking, Gandhi has carefully bypassed the nuclear deal and has focussed on social and agriculture sectors instead.

This is in dramatic contrast to the Sandesh issue last month where in a signed letter to party workers, Gandhi had not only acknowledged Congress ownership of the deal but emphasised how it was 'good for the country'.

This month's low profile on the agreement could be to avert a standoff with the Left parties. Last month, Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made significant remarks on the collision with the Left supporters on this issue. A few weeks later, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat too showered praises on the Prime Minister in an interview.

In her latest message to the party workers, Sonia Gandhi has asked them to take active interest in implementing and monitoring of schemes under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

She has also mentioned about the UPA government's decision to raise the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat and paddy. "Such levels of increase are unprecedented and demonstrate the firm commitment of our party to the welfare of kisan community" Gandhi said.