In a speech resembling an election address, Congress President Sonia Gandhi [Images] on Sunday made a veiled attack on opponents of the nuclear deal and said that the Ram Sethu controversy could be resolved without hurting the sentiments of people.

Strongly defending the India-United States nuclear agreement, she said that there was a need to keep a certain pace in power generation if the pace of the country's progress has to be maintained. Gandhi added that there were certain elements in the country who were acting as impediments in the nation's progress and they need to be given a befitting reply.

"Such elements are not only enemies of the Congress, but enemies of peace and development. We should join hands to give them an appropriate answer," the United Progressive Alliance Chairperson said while addressing a public gathering at Jharli village in Haryana's Jhajjar district. She was addressing the crowd after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 7892 crore 1500 MW Indira Gandhi [Images] Super Thermal power project.

Though Gandhi did not specifically refer to the opposition to the deal from the Left Front,  her comments against the 'opponents of progress' assumes importance in the wake of the serious stand-off over the nuclear deal.

Noting that power was required in every part of the country, Gandhi said, "We are working at every level to meet the energy needs of the people. That is why the nuclear deal with the US has been proposed".

Criticising those who were trying to politicise the Ram Sethu issue, she blamed them for raking up a controversy in the name of Lord Ram.

"Congress has always believed in equal respect for all religions. We believe no such thing should happen which hurts the sentiments of people. I hope this issue will be resolved," Gandhi said.

Devoting a good part of her speech to India's freedom struggle including the First War of Independence in 1857, she said that people from Haryana had sacrificed their lives to see a free India.

Taking the names of several heroes of India's independence movement who hailed from Haryana like Rewari's Rao and Tula Ram, she said it was because of brave men like them

that the British were forced to leave the country.

She also praised the contribution of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's grandfather and father Ranbir Singh in the freedom struggle.