New Delhi, Dec. 17: The Congress issued a statement on Friday explaining the Congress general secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi’s views on terrorism and communalism.

“Terrorism and communalism of all types is a threat to India. We need to remain vigilant against acts of terrorism of all kinds, no matter who commits them,” said the Congress release issued by the party general secretary, Mr Janardan Dwivedi.

In another cable, the US embassy in New Delhi was critical of the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and described the CPI(M) leader, Mr Prakash Karat, as an “extortionist” in a cable that discussed the political scenario in November 2007 — days before the Indo-US nuclear agreement was to be debated and voted in Parliament.

In the cable dated November 7, 2007, embassy officials described Mrs Gandhi as being “unable to show principled leadership even when it might benefit her party at the polls and reveal Prakash Karat to be the extortionist he is,” PTI reports.

In New Delhi, the party’s statement came hours after the Congress struggled with the issue of the Wikileaks cable which claimed that Mr Rahul Gandhi had told Mr Timothy Roemer that the growth of “radicalised Hindu groups”, which create religious tensions in India, could pose a bigger threat to the country than activities of groups like LeT.

The initial reaction of the Congress on the issue was one of dilemma with the party spokesperson, Mr Abhishek Singhvi, saying, “We will respond to it after verifying the facts. There is no reason to react in an excited manner.”

According to the cable from New Delhi, at a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, at his residence in July 2009, Mr Gandhi was asked by the US ambassador about the LeT’s activities in the region and the immediate threat to India. “Gandhi said there was evidence of some support for the group among certain elements in India’s indigenous Muslim community,” the cable notes. “However, Gandhi warned, the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalised Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and confrontations with Muslim community,” it says.

The cable that criticises Mrs Gandhi and discusses whether the Manmohan Singh government would be forced to call general elections on the Indo-US nuclear deal issue, says: “Mrs Gandhi never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” It says: “The Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi, has proven cautious and nervous in the face of recent extortionist tactics by Prakash Karat. With two huge confrontations in its future — Parliament and Gujarat — it will remain true to its cautious form by seeking first to gauge its levels of support before finally being forced to take action.”

Informing Washington that while remaining publicly restrained and taking care not to be seen as interfering with domestic Indian politics, the embassy said it will continue to meet with political, business and civil society organisations to urge them to support the agreement. “We will continue to press the UPA on the need for early completion of the safeguards agreement with the IAEA. And, we will continue our efforts to remind the BJP that the US-India nuclear agreement is their deal, too,” the cable says.