New Delhi:
Sonia Gandhi's absence was felt during the Anna Hazare agitation, as she has always given us a way out, Union Minister Veerappa Moily said today.
"We all felt her absence because whenever there is crisis, her presence and direction has always given us a way out," Moily said on a day when Sonia Gandhi returned to the Capital early this morning from abroad where she underwent surgery a month ago for an undisclosed ailment.
Moily was asked by reporters on the sidelines of a conference whether the party and the government had felt Gandhi's absence during the recent Anna Hazare agitation.
Asked whether things will be back on track now that Sonia has returned, Moily said, "One thing I can say that political will of our Congress party is demonstrated with the willpower of Soniaji as a leader."
He added, "I am not referring to Anna Hazare or anybody else, I am not speaking in exclusion or in that context but I can definitely tell you that Soniaji has given us excellent leadership and you know that she can always give us a sense of direction.
"She is a person not only in good times but also during times of crisis. That is the quality of her leadership."