Sonia Gandhi felicitates Kailash Satyarthi, Malala Yousafzai

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday congrtulated child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi and girls education rights activist from Pakistan Malala Yousafzai on being chosen for the Nobel Peace Prize as the party read a symbolism in the decision noting "conflict resolution and not conflict escalation" should be the norm.

Expressing happiness over it, she said the awards have brought "glory to the entire South Asia" and extended her good wishes to Malala Yusufzai. Congratulating Satyarthi, Gandhi said it is a "moment of immense pride" for the nation and that the Nobel prize to Satyarthi was a "rightfully deserved recognition of his tremendous contribution.

At the party briefing, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the joint Nobel peace prize to two civilians--one from India and the other from Pakistan-- ironically coming at a time of firing from Pakistan side into the Indian territory has its own symbolism and it should not be lost on any one.

"It sends a clear message that conflict resolution must be the norm...conflict escalatation by whichever country has to be deprecated," he said.