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Saturday, Dec 10, 2005

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National

A gesture she will cherish

Luv Puri

The UPA Chairperson and All-India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi talks with earthquake survivors at Sultan Daki, some 120 km northwest of Srinagar, on Friday. — PHOTO: Nissar Ahmad

POONCH: It was a touching moment for Congress president Sonia Gandhi when girl students wished her a happy birthday on her arrival in a quake-affected belt, which adjoins Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, on Friday.

The two-day tour of Ms. Gandhi, who turned 60, started with the inauguration of a school building for higher secondary girls. The school was badly damaged in the October 8 earthquake. As she reached the venue, Ravneet Kour and Preeti Ghai, Standard XII students, stepped forward, wished the Congress president "a very happy birthday" and presented a card. Accompanying Congress leaders joined in the loud clap by the students.

Ms. Gandhi hugged the two girls and blessed them. Their gesture was a precious birthday gift she would cherish, she said.

Then the Congress president travelled to Karmarra, near the Line of Control, where many people, whose houses were damaged, voiced their concern at slow relief.Giving them a patient hearing, Ms. Gandhi said: "The entire nation has felt your pain. I have heard your problems and would certainly ask the people concerned to immediately redress your problems."

A new team would be sent for addressing long-term problems in affected areas.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief and Minister for Youth Affairs Peerzada Mohammad Sayed and People's Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti accompanied Ms. Gandhi.

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