Expressing anguish over a photograph of Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde embracing his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, a group of Mumbai residents have sent a telegram to Congress president Sonia Gandhi urging her to take action in the matter.

The telegram said, "We are shocked to see a photograph of Shinde embracing Modi. Does your party stand for the secularism of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru?"

The photograph, which was taken in New Delhi, had appeared in major national dailies recently.

The signatories included former police officer Julio Ribeiro, media professional Alyque Padamsee, Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar, film personality Mahesh Bhatt, music exponent Shubha Mudgal, actor Farookh Shaikh, filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, journalist Nikhil Wagle and editors of Communalism Combat Javed Anand and Teesta Setalvad.

"Actions like that of Shinde may seem trivial but they go a long way in legitimising the hate-driven politics of an amoral politician like Modi, who should be castigated not applauded for his role in the Gujarat carnage," the telegram added.