Sonia launches veiled attack on Left

In a speech that looked like an election address, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today made a thinly-veiled attack on opponents of the nuclear deal, and said the Ram Setu controversy could be resolved without hurting any sections of the public.

Strongly defending the Indo-US nuclear deal, she said if the pace of country's progress has to be maintained, then there was a need to keep pace in power generation.

She said there were certain elements in the country who would act as impediments in the nation's progress and they need to be given a befitting reply.

"..Such elements are not only enemies of the Congress, but enemies of peace and development. We should join hands to give them an appropriate answer," the UPA Chairperson said addressing a public gathering at Jharli village after laying the foundation stone of the Rs 7,892 crore 1500MW Indira Gandhi Super Thermal power project.

Though Gandhi did not refer to the Left as the opposition to the deal, her comments against opponents of progress assumes importance in the wake of a serious standoff between the two over the nuke deal.

She said the country's power generation will have to keep pace with overall rapid development taking place and the nuclear deal had been proposed keeping this factor in mind.

Noting that there was a requirement of power in every part of the country, Gandhi said, "We are working at every level to meet the energy needs of the people. That is why the nuclear deal with the US has been proposed."

Criticising those who were trying to politicize the Ram Setu issue, she blamed them for raking up a controversy in the name of Lord Ram.