NEW DELHI: Expressing disappointment over the Bihar election result, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said it was a "signal for secular forces to remain united" and more effectively propagate the principles of equity, democracy and development.

Ms. Gandhi's observation at the general body meeting of the Congress in Parliament contained an apparent reference to the approach the United Progressive Alliance constituents and the supporting Left parties adopted in the Assembly poll.

Opportunity in challenge

Ms. Gandhi said the party faced a big challenge, which also offered many opportunities to strengthen it. The Congress should start preparing itself for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam next year. The AICC plenary in Hyderabad from January 20 to 22 would provide an occasion for imparting a new momentum to the organisation.

Noting the return of the Left parties to the Coordination Committee, she said the firm commitment to the Common Minimum Programme "binds us together and there are really no differences that cannot be resolved through dialogue and discussion."

On the role of the Opposition, Ms. Gandhi said the National Democratic Alliance was bent on disrupting Parliament. Reiterating that the there was no question of the Congress involvement in the Iraqi oil-for-food issue, she said the NDA was not interested in debating the issue even though the UPA agreed to a discussion.

With the government ordering an inquiry, "we will not hesitate to take action, if the probe findings so warrant, against anyone who may have misused the party's name for personal gain. As for the so-called Mitrokhin disclosures, we reject them outright."

Referring to the recent bomb blasts in the Delhi, Ms. Gandhi said the government was carrying out thorough investigations to identify those behind the dastardly act and some were apprehended. A message had to go out loud and clear that there would be no compromise on combating terrorism.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said, had spoken a number of times about Pakistan not fulfilling its commitments to stop providing sanctuary to terrorist groups. While the party supported continuation of the peace process and dialogue, "let us be categorical and unequivocal in insisting that terrorist attacks that are masterminded from across our western border must cease."

Iran issue

On the Iran nuclear issue, she said India was always opposed to nuclear proliferation and stood for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. She said the Congress was also aware of the country's traditional ties with Iran and was certain that the Government would continue to work for a just and fair solution.

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