Speech

Dastardly Act : Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI : The gruesome incident in Jammu where terrorists gunned down innocent civilians and defence personnel came in for strong condemnation by the Congress.

Expressing her "deep sense of anguish and pain over the incident", the Congress president, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, said the "dastardly act calls for an unequivocal condemnation by all those who uphold humanity".

In a statement on 14 May, Smt. Gandhi called on the Government to take "effective measures to confront the challenge posed by terrorists aided and abetted from across the border and ensure protection of the lives of all our citizens".

Conveying her heartfelt sympathies to all the bereaved families, Smt. Gandhi said : "I am deeply anguished and shocked at the barbarous killings of innocent men, women and children by terrorists". She described as "most reprehensible the inhuman manner in which the families of our brave jawans and valiant defence forces have lost their lives".

In seperate statements, two Congress leaders, Ahmad Patel and Karan Singh, have also condemned the incident. Mr. Patel described the incident as a cowardly act "no words are sufficient to condemn it". The attack on the families of the defence personnel was done with the sole intention of breaking their morale".

Rajya Sabha MP, Karan Singh, said the attack was yet another reminder that Pakistan seemed to have no intention of stopping or reducing the incidence of cross-border terrorism.

 

‘Mahavir’s Teachings Relevant’

The All India Congress Committee released the following press release on 24 April, 2002 :

The Congress president today greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. She said that Lord Mahavir’s teachings are more relevant today, particularly his tenets on brotherhood, sacrifice and selfless service to mankind.