Diplomatic pressure exerted on Pak worked for India: Sonia

Uchana (Haryana), Mar 1 (PTI) In an apparent reference
to Pakistan admitting that the Mumbai attacks were partly
planned on its soil, India's ruling Congress President Sonia
Gandhi Sunday said diplomatic pressure exerted on Islamabad
forced it to speak out the truth.

She also said India was fully capable of defeating the
"evil designs" of terrorists.

Addressing a public meeting here, Gandhi said some
elements which are not happy with India's progress are trying
to create "obstacles from time to time".

"Terrorism is one such impediment," the Congress chief
said.

Gandhi, however, said the country was fully capable of
defeating the evil designs of these elements and added that
"our restraint should not be treated as our weakness."

"Pakistan was forced to speak out the truth due to the
diplomatic pressure exerted by us on the country," she said.

Pakistan had last month admitted that the 26/11
carnage was partly planned in the country.

The Congress chief said Indian economy continues to be
strong despite the recent global economic slowdown and
attributed it to the policies followed by former Prime
Ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

"Even though the recession had hit globally, India's
economy is strong. This is because of the foundation laid and
policies followed by the two leaders," Gandhi said.

Seeking to reach out to the people ahead of the
elections, the Congress chief said the country had made rapid
progress in all fields under the present UPA regime.

Attacking the previous BJP-led NDA dispensation, she
criticised their "India Shining" slogan, saying the nation got
derailed from the path of progress under their rule.

Earlier, Gandhi inaugurated the Rajiv Gandhi
Mahavidyalya here. She also inaugurated an exhibition on the
former Prime Minister. PTI SUN
SAK
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