Saturday, November 26 2005 19:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Concerned over factionalism in the Congress, its president Sonia Gandhi today (Nov 26, 2005) asked young leaders not to be over ambitious and intolerant.

"Competition is fine. But if too much of ambition becomes a disease, it creates problems," Gandhi said in her speech at a function in honor of Chaudhary Ranbir Singh, the lone surviving architect of the Indian Constitution.

She also noted what she called rising intolerance among her party's young leaders.

"Today's politics and society have become different. Many have become intolerant and self-centric unlike in the past," Gandhi remarked.

"But the new generation must ensure to stay away from factionalism and self-centric politics and focus attention on nation-building," Gandhi said.

She cited Singh, father of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, as a living example of someone who always espoused the 'high ideals' of the Congress.

Gandhi, who also released memoirs of Singh on his 92nd birthday, said the country owed its rise to people like him who because of their outstanding accomplishments toward nation-building.

The Congress chief presented Singh and his wife with shawls and a copy of the Constitution.

The event was also attended by Hooda, HRD Minister Arjun Singh, Union Minister Natwar Singh, Congress leader Ram Niwas Mirdha and a host of party MLAs and ministers from Delhi and Haryana.