Rahul Gandhi to address Congress plenary tomorrow, may reply on WikiLeaks

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to give a reply to the opposition on the WikiLeaks controversy involving his remarks on "radicalised Hindu groups".

"I will speak tomorrow," Gandhi told reporters when asked whether and when he will speak in the two-day plenary session of the party.

Gandhi was talking to the media in the midst of the party's subject committee meeting in Delhi, which is taking place to finalise all the four resolutions of the party for the two day open session of the plenary beginning tomorrow.

The AICC general secretary, however, declined to say anything on the WikiLeaks controversy which has brought him under attack from the BJP and RSS.

Sources said that Congress is likely to strike the middle path on the issue of terror at its plenary. 

The party in its political resolution will emphasise that terror has no colour or religion, the sources said.

An indication of the party's stand on the issue of terror was evident with Gandhi himself yesterday clarifying that "terrorism and communalism of all types are a threat to India. We need to remain vigilant against acts of terrorism of all kinds no matter who commits them."

The statement released on his behalf by AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi came after Gandhi's remarks in leaked US diplomatic cables drew a sharp response from BJP and RSS. The statement was also the first acknowledgement from the Congress that Gandhi had indeed talked to US ambassador Timothy Roemer on the issue.

According to the leaked cable, Rahul had told Roemer that growth of "radicalised Hindu groups" which create religious tensions in India could pose a bigger threat to the country than activities of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The initial reaction of the Congress on the issue was one of dilemma with party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi saying, "We will respond to it after verifying the facts. There is no reason to react in an excited manner. The issue should first be looked into and verified".

A senior party leader speaking on condition of anonymity said Congress' stand on the issue of terror has always been well-known that it does not believe that terrorism is linked to any religion. He said that Rahul Gandhi is also saying the same thing.

Asked about Rahul's comments in the cable, he pointed out that there could be difference between what was actually said and what was reported because a fair amount of interpretation and analysis goes into the making of any report which a diplomat sends to his country.