Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in her opening address at the AICC session held at New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium. “Today, I want to address some key threats to this fabric, the tensions and forces that are stretching it to breaking point. I also want to highlight how our Party and our government have, over the last decade, responded to these threats through some key policies and programmes. Let me start with the first : disparities. In spite of impressive economic growth for which we can justifiably take credit, the fact is that disparities are still painfully widespread. Growth is essential and must be sustained. But rapid growth alone cannot address the problems arising out of continuing disparities. Tackling these is not just a matter of social justice but more importantly an existential necessity and a moral imperative”, said Sonia Gandhi.