Sonia Gandhi blasts NDA

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi called the Vajpayee government one of the worst the country has had. She then attacked the CPI(M) government in West Bengal of neglecting the state, while sparing their comrades in Kerala.

Stepping up her attack on BJP, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday dubbed the Vajpayee Government as one of the worst in the country's history, but spared the Left parties who the ruling Congress-led UDF is fighting in Kerala, a day after she came down heavily on the CPI-M in West Bengal for "destroying" the state's economy.

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Addressing campaign meetings here, in Kochi and Kozhikode during her one-day whistle-stop tour amidst unseasonal rains, she alleged the secular foundations of the country had been shaken by the BJP rule under which corruption was rampant even at the cost of the internal security of the nation.

However, during the fag end of her speech at Kozhikode, Gandhi said it was tragic and sad that inspite of UDF government's best efforts, CPI(M) here was opposing it at every single step and also "harassing" the Congress workers.

Referring to the "coffin scam" and "Tehelka tape", she said "You all know the CAG report which showed how attempts were made to make money even at the cost of lives of jawans and interests of the nation's security."

Slamming the BJP rule for its unkept promises, she charged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with failing to fulfil the promise of generating one crore jobs while the Government policy sharply reduced the job potential in organised sector.

In Kochi, she said the minorities had become the target of BJP and NDA's attack and their institutions were under seige.

Heavy rains forced the AICC chief to cancel her programme in Thiruvalla in Mavelikkara constituency.