Nothing new in President's address: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi was today unimpressed with the President's Address, which laid the roadmap of the Narendra Modi government, saying there was "nothing new" in it and talked about only some revamped UPA policies.

"There is nothing new. These are only revamping some of old UPA policies and presenting it," she said when asked about President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint sitting of Parliament.

Asked about the sabbatical given to the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, she said that he has been "given a few weeks. He needs some time."

Asked whether he has been given some time to reflect on recent events and future course of the party as has been told to media, the Congress President merely said, "Well, the reason is what you have been told."

Party sources had yesterday said that the Congress Vice President was "granted leave of absence for a few weeks after which he will return and resume his active participation in the affairs of the Congress party".