Dont allow any section to get alienated in J and K: Sonia

New Delhi, Sep 13 (UNI) Asserting that the people of all regions of Jammu and Kashmir were part of India, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said it was incumbent upon the government to deal with it most sensitively if any section felt alienated.

She also unequivocally rejected the notion of a further division of Jammu and Kashmir which had been advocated by the RSS, and said "there is also no question of pandering to or being soft on the separatists." Ms Gandhi was addressing the Extended Congress Working Committee meeting at the Parliament annexe here.

She expressed grief at the loss of lives and violence in Jammu and Kashmir and in Orissa on account of the political and social disturbances there.

Describing the flood situation in Bihar as a 'colossal tragedy," Ms Gandhi said the "tragedy was compounded by neglect." In this context, she said the government must work hard to find a long term solution to the perennial problem of floods in this entire region.

Referring to disturbances in Kashmir on the Amarnath land issue, she said the state had witnessed a marked increase in development in recent years.

The Prime Minister's Reconstruction package, and programmes and initiatives at the state level, were making a decisive impact.

Normalcy had returned, a fact borne by the strong revival in tourism, for instance.

"That the situation should have taken such a painful turn is a matter of deep anguish," Ms Gandhi said, adding that " I hope that the recent settlement on the Amarnath Yatra will lead to a return of a peaceful atmosphere." UNI SH RR GC1626