Opponents of nuke deal are against countrys development: Sonia

Relations between the Congress and the Left today worsened after Congress president Sonia Gandhi equated the opponents of the Indo-US nuclear deal with those opposed to the countrys development.

Jhajjar (Haryana)/New Delhi, Oct 7 : Relations between the Congress and the Left today worsened after Congress president Sonia Gandhi equated the opponents of the Indo-US nuclear deal with those opposed to the country's development.

Linking the deal, which has become a bone of contention between the UPA and the Left, as a remedy for common people's electricity problem, Sonia today said, "Today power supply is an important issue. We're trying to solve the problem through the nuclear deal. Every time there is a programme, there are objections raised. These people are not only against the Congress, but also against the development of the country."

"This time we will protest and give them a befitting reply," she added.

Sonia said these at a mammoth public rally in Jhajjar in Haryana.

Terming the deal as "necessary to keep the pace of development going", Sonia in her 15-minute speech said, "They (opponents of the nuclear deal) are against both development and peace. You should be on guard against them."

Her tough posture comes just hours after she told reporters on Saturday night at an Iftar party that the Congress was not concerned about the prospects of a mid-term poll and that her party is ready to face the polls.

The crucial meeting of the UPA and the Left over the nuclear deal is scheduled to be held on October 9.

Sonia today also spoke about the controversial Sethusamudram project and said that religion should not be mixed with politics and development.

"The Congress has equal respect for all religions. I hope that the issue will be sorted out soon," she said.

ANI