Row erupts in New York over Sonia’s UN visit

Supporters of the Congress in New York have slammed the planned protest against Party President Sonia Gandhi’s address...

Supporters of the Congress in New York have slammed the planned protest against Party President Sonia Gandhi’s address to the UN General Assembly on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, calling it “politically motivated”.

Gandhi will address the Assembly on October 2, which has been declared as “International Day of Non Violence” by the UN.

Protesting against the Congress President, the Gandhi Heritage Foundation has termed her selection as “inappropriate” for the occasion. “Sonia’s actions and policies are in gross violation of principles and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. She is unrelated to the Mahatma by blood, thoughts, words and deeds.” the Foundation alleged.

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The Foundation plans to hold demonstration near the United Nations on October 2 where the Congress President will address the Assembly.

Indian National Overseas Congress President Surinder Malhotra denied any knowledge about the protest. “It is a matter for the law and authorities to deal with,” he said. Speaking about the policies followed by the Congress under Sonia’s leadership that has put India’s development on a fast track, Malhotra said it showed her “patriotism and love for the country which no one wedded to secularism can challenge”.

The Congress stands for secularism and rejects exclusion on religious or ethnic basis. Talking about choosing Sonia for the occasion, he said, “She is not only the appropriate, but also the best selection”.