Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia: Address anger and pain of Kashmiris

HT Correspondent
Email Author
New Delhi, August 20, 2010

First Published: 00:09 IST(20/8/2010)
Last Updated: 00:10 IST(20/8/2010)

Anguished over the unrest in Kashmir, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday called for reaching out to the people, especially youth, of the state by addressing their “anger and pain” through dialogue and mutual understanding. “Jammu and Kashmir has a special place in our polity and indeed in our 

hearts. A whole generation has grown up under the shadow of brutality and conflict,” she said in her address to the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting.

Gandhi described the developments as a “call to our collective conscience” and offered condolences to the families of those killed in violence. “I feel their grief. They are our very own and their suffering is ours.”

Gandhi also praised security forces, saying they had a difficult task.

On illegal mining, she said it had emerged as the “most serious menace” in a number of states affected by tribal deprivation and Left-wing extremist violence.

“What is most worrying is the high degree of convergence between areas that are mineral and forest-rich and areas that are the arenas of tribal deprivation and for Left-wing extremist violence.”

She said dealing with the Naxalite challenge would call for fundamental innovations in the manner in which the mineral resources were exploited and forests managed.

On the Bhopal gas tragedy, Gandhi acknowledged there had been inadequacies. “But we cannot remain prisoners of the past. We must look ahead.”

Gandhi said the Prime Minister has spoken of the need for reforms in the management of food economy and the National Advisory Council had taken up the subject even as steps were being taken to fulfill the pledge on the food security.

On the elections in Bihar, she said her party was galvanised to fight the battle ahead.

“Ours is the only party to have an all-inclusive development agenda. Never before has Bihar received so much financial assistance from the Centre for development and welfare.”

(Hinstan times)

Sonia signals campaign against illegal mining in Karnataka

TNN, Aug 20, 2010, 03.40am IST

NEW DELHI: Making clear the Congress intention to go after the BJP government in Karnataka over the issue of illegal mining, party chief Sonia Gandhion Thursday described such activity as a threat to both the economy and a way of life. 

Addressing her party MPs she pointed to the Centre's initiative to set up a Commission of Inquiry and a mining regulatory authority. "This (illegal mining) has emerged as a most serious menace in a number of states with profound political, economic and social implications," she said.

She termed as disturbing the linkages between mineral-rich, forested areas traditionally inhabited by the tribals and ultra-Left violence.

Sonia referred to the debate on the subject in both the Houses and talked of the widespread implications of the illicit activity.

She said in a number of state illegal mining posed a threat to the political, social and economic practices.

"Protecting the rights of the tribals and ensuring their livelihood are central to bringing about an end to their exploitation and sense of alienation," she said in an apparent reference to the Left-wing militancy in the tribal hinterland.

However, while seeking to give the issue a larger socio-economic dimension, Sonia left no doubts that her focus was on the large-scale illegal mining in the BJP-ruled Karnataka.

The Reddy brothers -- both ministers in the Yeddyurappa government -- have been at the receiving end of a campaign against unauthorised mining of iron ore involving thousands of crores.

Of late, Congress has made it a big issue and accused Karunakar and Jagannath Reddy of being the `purse-string' of the BJP. (the times of India)

Read more: Sonia signals campaign against illegal mining in Karnataka - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sonia-signals-campaign-against-illegal-mining-in-Karnataka/articleshow/6340741.cms#ixzz0x6VKPoOY