New Delhi, Aug 19: Expressing her "deep pain" at the ethnic violence in Assam, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday condemned the subsequent mistreatment faced by people from northeast in some states and called for strict action against the guilty.
 Speaking at the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award ceremony here, she said the present conditions prevailing in the country were linked to its unity and amity.
 "Whatever happened in Assam, it is very painful and a matter of concern. Those responsible for the incidents, whoever they may be, should face legal action soon," she said.
 Gandhi also expressed concern over people from northeast leaving Bangalore and some other cities in large numbers due to rumours about their safety.
 "The kind of treatment innocent people from northeast are facing, all of us should condemn it strongly and the centre and state governments should deal strictly with those trying to disrupt social harmony," she said.
 Gandhi said social harmony was not an issue for her late husband Rajiv Gandhi but a fundamental value which he lived all his life.
 Rajiv Gandhi constantly struggled against social and communal tension, discord, violence, enmity, terrorism, illiteracy and poverty and sacrificed his life following the path, she said.
 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Rajiv Gandhi wanted to build a strong and prosperous India. "He knew that India can make progress only if all countrymen live in peace, tolerance and harmony with each other," he said. IANS

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