Sonia launches tirade against BJP allies

“Those who support BJP are helping in propagating its ideology and if they speak of religious tolerance, then why should they still extend support?” Gandhi told a State Congress political convention here on the first day of her two-day visit to the TDP-ruled Andhra Pradesh.

Ruling out toppling of the Vajpayee Government, she asked, “Why should we destabilise the Government? It will collapse because of its own inherent contradictions.”

“History has proved that coalition governments fail within twoyears and the present Government is on the verge of collapse,” the Congress president added.

She said crimes against minorities and weaker sections had “increased considerably under the BJP-led coalition and continued unabated, with no respite, in several parts of the country”. Gandhi said fundamentalist forces were trying to break the country along communal lines.

“We are in the holy town of Lord Balaji, which has a long tradition of tolerance, goodwill and brotherhood, that are now being threatened,” she said, after a visit to the Lord Venkateswara temple where she offered prayers.