Cong rally: Oppn trying to weaken democracy, says Sonia

New Delhi: Struggling to cope with a string of corruption allegations against its party members over the past few months, and the widescale criticism that followed, the Congress party on Sunday tried to impress the people with a massive show of strength through a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.

While party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh confined themselves to listing out the government's achievements, especially in the economic arena, it was UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi who led the Congress's attack on the Opposition, slamming it for its "double standards".

"We want to make it clear that in these difficult times, in the current economic conditions, we will do anything that is required. The Opposition does not want to pass important bills, don't want discussion in Parliament. They want to weaken the democratic roots of this country. We will not allow them to do that," the Congress president said, projecting the image of a person in control.

"Those who want to weaken the democratic roots of the nation, it is them who don't hesitate in making false allegations against others. Those who give lectures on corruption... when we see them, we see they are neck deep in corruption," Sonia continued, before going on to hail the party's efforts to bring in the revolutionary Right to Information (RTI) Act. "No one will be spared who is found guilty of corruption," she said, adding, "We have made a law through which the common man can ask questions to any government - Congress or any other. Such a law can be brought in only by them who want to curb corruption."

Sonia insisted that the country's growth momentum was still steady and growing. "If we compare with other countries, we see that even now our country's growth hasn't stopped. I understand that price rise is affecting the common man. The problem is we import 80 per cent from abroad. We have had to take some difficult decisions," she said.

Shifting her focus to the Opposition again, Sonia asked, "Did you ever run a government who has done so much work.. brought in welfare in such a short time in both urban and rural areas?" "We will keep working towards a better future for India. No one can stop us. Congress is the only party which is secular. No other party can boast of that. We called this rally to tell you that at a time when our country facing economic and political challenges, Congress will be successful," she said.