Sonia Gandhi mentions Kashmir, mum on Adarsh

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday expressed her concern over the Kashmir situation, raked up the Ayodhya verdict, but kept quiet in the unfolding Adarsh Housing scam of Mumbai involving the party?s chief ministers as she addressed the AICC session here.

?Political factor is key to peace in Jammu and Kashmir,? Sonia Gandhi said at the All India Congress Committee session.

?We are facing many challenges. Events in Kashmir in the last few months have been painful,? she said, adding , ?I share their grief. Their loss is national loss.?

?An entire generation has seen violence and death in Jammu and Kashmir, this is not future,? she said.

Sonia Gandhi also dwelt on Maoist violence.

?Naxalism is a serious security threat. Naxalism, exploitation and destruction of habitat will not help,? she said.

Sonia Gandhi raked up the Ayodhya verdict to attack the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

?Those behind the Babri demolition must be punished. Ayodhya verdict does not condone Babri demolition,? she said.

Sonia Gandhi expressed her deep concern over the excessive rise of the price of food and pledged to ensure food for all.

Speaking at the session, both Rahul Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee slammed the RSS and the right wing forces.

The AICC statement issued at the session said: “Recent revelations through detailed investigations have exposed the true character of the RSS and its sister organisations. The investigations indicate the involvement of its members in terrorist activities.?

“The Indian national Congress will fight against all such sources that spread religious hatred, prejudice and bigotry and that seek to polarise our people along religious lines,” the statement said, as the leaders vowed to uphold the nation?s secular fabric.