Srinagar: Alleging that the BJP-led NDA (National democratic Alliance) government's Pakistan policy "lacked clarity, consistency and conviction", Congress president Sonia Gandhi on May 30 asserted there would be no compromise on her party's determination to defeat terrorism.

"The BJP-led NDA government's policy on Pakistan has lacked clarity, consistency and conviction. The Central government's stand has vacillated from one extreme to another," Gandhi said in her opening remarks at the first ever Congress Chief Ministers's conclave.

She, however said, "in spite of these glaring contradictions" the party has extended its "broad and sustained support" to the Centre on matters of national security, cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and on Indo-Pak ties.

"We will continue to do so. There can and will be no compromise in our determination to defeat terrorism. The Congress position has all along been unwavering," she said.

The Congress has all along believed that the doors of diplomacy and windows of dialogue with Pakistan should always be kept open and active, she said, adding "cooperation, collaboration and contact across political, economic, cultural, educational, sporting and other fronts must be fostered and kept going."

"We were attacked bitterly for this position by BJP during recent Assembly election campaigns but we have been steadfast in our principled stand. We have been vindicated," she said.

The Congress Chief said elections to the five state Assemblies will be held in about six months from now. We are in power in four of these five states, she said.

In each of them, the Congress had a solid record of achievements that "has to be projected and propogated by each and everyone of us", she added.

"I am confident that we will overcome the so-called ‘anti-incumbency syndrome’ and the people of those states will give a renewed mandate for effective governance, Gandhi said adding effective governance has always been the hallmark of any Congress administration.

"All I want to say now is that victory in the polls will need a united effort and victory will depend on coordination between state government and our party organisation and machinery," Gandhi added.

PTI