Sonia accuses BJP of divisive politics

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) Virtually kickstarting the
Congress campaign for the forthcoming elections to the Lok
Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament), party president
Sonia Gandhi Sunday targeted the BJP accusing it of indulging
in polarisation and divisive politics.

"Grave damage has been done to our secular polity,
society and economy by the BJP-led NDA. Theirs is a voice of
polarisation, of division, of hatred. Ours is a voice of
social justice, communal harmony and inclusiveness," she said.

Gandhi, who was addressing a meeting of her party's
district and block level office-bearers, said BJP-NDA spoke
for the "privileged few" while the Congress was the "voice of
the multitude and the aam aadmi (common man)".

Noting that safeguarding of the secular polity,
unprecedented economic growth and fight against terror were
among the Congress-led government's achievements, Gandhi said
though the country was reeling under the impact of a global
recession, the government had done a commendable job.

"The world is going through a economic recession. There
is no room for complacency but India is demonstrating its
resilience," she said.

Describing terror as one of the major challenges, Gandhi
said, "The recent barbaric terror attacks in Mumbai and Assam
remind us of the pain we are going through. But we have no
doubt that we will overcome this difficult situation."

She also warned the neighbouring countries not to take
India's "patience" to be a sign of weakness and said those
abetting terrorism will be given a befitting reply.

Gandhi said the Congress did not believe in making
political capital out of the fight against terror like the
opposition.

"The opposition created hurdles in Parliamentary
functioning and also caused undue delay in passing of the
anti-terror law," she said.

The Congress president accused the BJP-led NDA of playing
communal politics. "Those who gather people on religious
lines, mislead people in the name of Ram, cannot become an
effective force against terror," she said.

Gandhi lauded the Congress as being the only party which
believed that communal harmony and economic development were
two sides of the same coin.

She also said the Congress had young leaders who had
benefitted from the political background of their families.
However, the number of those who have risen because of their
own efforts was much higher, she said. PTI