NEW DELHI, 12 May 2005 — Congress party President Sonia Gandhi yesterday said that the boycott of Parliament by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was its “tactics” to sidetrack its internal dissensions and disarray to issues that have no substantive content.

“The BJP, with its tactics, is attempting to take away from its internal dissensions and its total disarray to issues that have no consistent or substantive content,” she said.

“Our legislative accomplishments would have been more satisfying had the NDA been present. As you all know, the prime minister went out of his way to talk to the NDA leadership individually to persuade them to end their self-imposed boycott,” she said.

Amid speculation of differences between them, Sonia yesterday effusively praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his dignified leadership and his government’s performance. Referring to the first anniversary of the Congress-led government next week at a meeting of Congress Parliamentary Party here, Sonia said: “Let us congratulate the prime minister for his leadership, his dignified and effective leadership.”

She slammed the NDA for targeting Manmohan, stating not even the most bitter critic could accuse Manmohan of being “arrogant, subjective or inconsiderate”.

She added: “This is an occasion for satisfaction at having achieved some of our goals but it is also an occasion for collective reflection and rededication.”

According to the Congress president, the last year had been one of substantial accomplishments across a wide spectrum.

In this context, she mentioned agriculture and rural development, rural employment, education, health and nutrition, infrastructure and economic growth and defense. “On the occasion of the first anniversary of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on May 22, the prime minister with the coalition partners and myself would be presenting the nation our specific progress report.”

Sonia also thanked the allies in the Congress-led UPA and the Left parties.

“Together, we have worked our coalition well. I am confident that the coalition has cemented itself and this will stand us in good stead in future,” Sonia said.

Sonia, whose party received much flak during the recent political crisis in the eastern state of Jharkhand, alleged that the BJP had indulged in “buying and selling” of legislators during government formation in the state.

“The truth has now come out. It is BJP that has, according to well-founded reports, indulged in buying and selling of legislators to put together a majority,” she said.

Calling on party workers to be “extremely vigilant”, she said they must confront the BJP’s attack on the Congress over the “buying and selling” of legislators’ issue.