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Sonia questions rationale for troop mobilisation

"After months of unprecedented troop mobilisation along our borders, there has been a de-escalation. We expect the government to tell the nation what this endeavour achieved," Gandhi told the Congress Party in Parliament.

Stating that India's international standing has fallen sharply because of the NDA government's foreign policies, Gandhi said she expects them to make a statement about the situation in West Asia also following developments relating to Iraq.

"The prospect of conflict in Iraq has receded for the present with the unanimous resolution in the Security Council and Iraq agreeing to inspection of its weapons. [But] the situation in these areas is grave," she said.

Gandhi, chairperson of the CPP, sought her party's complete support as the next 12 months are going to be 'elections-intensive' with nine states scheduled to go to the polls. Out of the nine, the Congress rules five.

"I have set up an election strategy group in the All-India Congress Committee to make plans, manifestoes, and strategies for those states. We are definitely being acknowledged as the party for governance and administration," she said.

Gandhi assailed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government for its utter failure on all counts during its three-year tenure and said it had no clear agenda for reviving the country's economy. "There has been no purposeful governance, no coherent leadership, and absolutely no clear sense of direction during the NDA's three years in office."

Accusing the central government of being apathetic towards the states severely affected by drought, Gandhi said farms and factories are both suffering and industries have come to a virtual standstill. "We on our part have spared no efforts in arriving at a working arrangement so that politics does not interfere with relief programmes," she said.

Gandhi accused the Centre of giving inadequate support to drought-affected states. Citing the example of Rajasthan, which is reeling under severe drought for the fourth consecutive year, she said the state had asked for 57 lakh metric tonnes of food grain. But so far it has been given only two lakh metric tonnes.

Referring to contradictions within the NDA and the BJP, she said the coalition has reduced economic reforms to a matter of divestment and that too in profitable and healthy public-sector companies. She described the recently announced 10th Five-Year Plan as 'bold and high aim'. "The entire basis of the plan is untenable and calls into serious question its very credibility."

"The Congress can cooperate only if the legislative measures are in tune with the interests of the people," she said.

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