Sonia targets BJP, questions AAP ideology

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday indirectly attacked the opposition, including the BJP and the AAP, saying while one was "spreading venom in society" the other "had no ideology".

"Certain narrow-minded elements have been spreading venom in the society. It is not only the main opposition party but some others are also involved in this. One should ask what is your ideology," Gandhi said in Hindi in her address at a rally in Shastri Park area of northeast Delhi.

"Can policies be made without ideology. Till the time you are not dedicated to an ideology, you will not be able to serve the people," she said.

She urged the people to compare the track record of Congress with that of its opponents.

Referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi's recent criticism of former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, the Congress chief said: "I want to ask all of you, did they spare the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhiji... no they did not. Did they spare Nehruji? He was a great freedom fighter. They did not stop criticising Indiraji."

"Those people who did not spare the architects of our nation, would they spare Manmohan Singhji, Sheila (Dikshit) ji and Congress governments," she said.

Targeting the BJP and its predecessors, she said: "Right since independence, they have levelled baseless allegations against the Congress."

The Congress chief praised Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for development in the national capital and said her opponents were blind to her work.

"People from every section see the development in Delhi but our opponents are blind to it," Gandhi said.

"They (the opposition) may not appreciate it (development) but the people know," she said.

Delhi, she said, has changed for the better in the 15 years under Dikshit.

"Has Delhi changed since the first government under Sheila Dikshit... yes, it has changed... people vote for development," Gandhi said.

She said "Delhi Metro is world famous now", and "office-goers no longer have to travel in crowded buses".

"I am also a resident of Delhi. We are witness to the development of Delhi in 15 years," she said.

Delhi goes to polls Dec 4. Results will be out Dec 8.