Congress President Sonia Gandhi today declared a war on the Vajpayee government, asserting that the party would "fight every battle, wage every war and make every sacrifice to liberate the country from the shackles of this shameful, corrupt and communal government". In her opening remarks at the 81st plenary session of the party, Gandhi said the BJP-led coalition had "sold the honour of the seats they occupy for a fistful of riches..... and there can be no forgiveness, no mercy". Noting that the session was held under the shadow of "shameful expose" of the BJP-led government, she said their "insatiable appetite for gratification" at the cost of the defence forces and national security..... Had torn the mask off the ugly face of corruption and venality". Asserting that the NDA government had lost the moral right to govern, she announced that the AICC would unveil a plan of action in New Delhi tomorrow to expose the "corrupt and venal" bjp-led government at all levels - from state to village - so that the cry that the government had "betrayed" the nation reverberated throughout.
In her hour-long speech, Gandhi refrained from touching the issue of coalition or the stand the party would adopt in the event of the fall of the NDA government. Bureau Report