Sonia directs Congress-ruled states to help Kashmir

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked chief ministers of states where the party is in power to contribute "with all means" towards relief and rehabilitation in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi is in constant touch with the AICC (All India Congress Committee) on the situation in flood-affected Jammu and Kashmir and the relief measures thereof," a party release said here Tuesday.

Gandhi, who is out of the country for a week for a medical check-up, has already set up a committee comprising Saiffudin Soz and Ghulam Nabi Azad, among others, on the Jammu and Kashmir floods, the release said.

The Congress president has also instructed Congress chief ministers to help in relief and rehabilitation efforts in Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has appealed to all Youth Congress, National Students' Union of India and Seva Dal volunteers to contribute and participate in relief work, the release said.