New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on March 28 made a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition at the Centre, saying its rule has "divided" the country and that "the nation needs Congress today more than ever before.

"It is time for each one of us to think of the country and act for the party," she said inaugurating the first ever convention of the block presidents of the party.

Gandhi said the BJP rule witnessed growing insecurity, as also hunger and corruption to the core, though the party came to power on the plank of removing fear, hunger and corruption.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule had seen several scandals and scams and it committed corruption even in the coffins of Kargil martyrs, she said, adding the time has come to create an atmosphere against "dangerous and destructive" policies being pursued by the BJP.

In a bid to galvanise the party ahead of the coming elections, the Congress, for the first time, is holding the two-day national convention of block party presidents.

The exercise, which is likely to come out with an action plan, would provide an opportunity to the party leadership to have an intense interaction with grass-root workers from across the country. It would help formulate a strategy for the next round of assembly polls as also Lok Sabha elections.

"Congress ka haath, garib ke saath" is the slogan for the convention, which would be followed by a public rally on March 30, to be addressed by Gandhi.

PTI