Meanwhile,Sonia plays to Gujarat gallery, hits at Advani

Commenting on Advani’s reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha on Monday, she said: ‘‘The BJP and the VHP, apart from disrupting peace and hampering progress, have launched a systematic attack on constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission. Sadly, Advani in his reply to the Lok Sabha failed to disapprove of this most dangerous trend.’’

Sonia said she was sure that the people of Gujarat would reject the forces which were spreading ‘‘heat and bigotry.’’ She added, ‘‘I am confident the state will reject the forces that have done so much to damage its fair name, its legacy of religious tolerance and understanding.’’

Charging the NDA Government with having no clear agenda to revive the country’s economy, she said it has failed on all counts during its three-year rule. ‘‘The Government,’’ she added, ‘‘has been in office — just that and no more. There has been no purposeful governance, no coherent leadership, no clear sense of direction.’’

Accusing the Central Government of being unsympathetic towards drought-hit states, Sonia said farms and factories were suffering immensely while industries had come to a standstill. As for the relief package announced by the Centre for the drought-hit states, she said the Government woke up suddenly before the winter session of Parliament but its offer came too late and was too little. ‘‘We, on our part, have spared no effort to arrive at a working arrangement so that politics does not interfere with relief programmes,’’ she said.

The coalition Government at the Centre, the Congress chief held, had reduced economic reforms to to a matter of just disinvestment ‘‘and that too in profitable and healthy public sector companies.’’