Shimla: The Congress on February 11 accused Vajpayee and Dhumal governments of fanning communalism and pursuing negative politics, as the party kicked off its high- powered campaign for the February 26 Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.

Addressing a string of poll rallies in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, his Chattisgarh counterpart Ajit Jogi and other senior Congress leaders like Motilal Vora, Mohsina Kidwai, Anand Sharma and Arjun Singh targeted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dispensation in Himachal.

Besides whipping up communalism, they alleged both the governments were indulging in corrupt practices.

Launching the party's campaign at Nalagarh in Solan district, captain Amarinder Singh alleged that P K Dhumal had amassed wealth during Chief Ministership.

He said "BJP has institutionalised corruption, nepotism and favouritism", adding if elected to power the Congress would provide a transparent and corruption-free government.

Arjun Singh asked people to reject communal forces and strengthen secular and Democratic forces.

In Hamirpur, former Uttar Pradesh Governor Motilal Vora alleged terror had spread during NDA rule and a large number of people had lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir alone.

At Kotkhai in Shimla district from where Rohit Thakur, grandson of former CM Ram Lal Thakur is contesting as a Congress candidate, R K Dhawan accused BJP of adopting divisive tactics to further its political interests.

He said when Pakistan was waging proxy war against India, BJP leaders were playing politics in the name of religion.

PTI