United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi [Images] said in New York on Monday that there is no need to raise an alarm because of the differing opinions expressed by political parties in India who are supporting the country's Congress-led coalition government.

In a 15-minute speech that was interrupted several times by sustained applause and at least two standing ovations, Sonia said that it is a new experience in recent times for the Congress at the Centre to run a coalition government.

Over 2,000 people listened with rapt attention as Sonia delivered a brief address at the ballroom of Marriott Marquis, the venue of a reception organised by the Indian National Overseas Congress, in her honour.

Among those, who shared the dais with her included External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi. Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, Congress Member of Parliament Karan Singh, who is also the chairman of the party's foreign affairs cell and India's Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen.

Sonia said that it was gratifying to see that a large number of Indian Americans are supporting social causes in India through NGOs in areas like education and rural development. But she cautioned that expatriate Indians should double check before parting with their money for such causes.

Caption: Sonia Gandhi greets the Indian-American community at the Marriott Marquis in New York. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is on her right.

Photograph: Jay Mandal/On Assignment