Sumerpur (Rajasthan): Stepping up attack on the Vajpayee dispensation ahead of electoral battles in four states, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on April 4 said the government was pursuing anti-people and anti-farmer policies and was deviating from real issues by raking up non-issues.

Accusing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of failing to mitigate people's problems, Gandhi at a public meeting in Sumerpur projected her party as the only saviour of the masses.

"Programmes and policies pursued by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) are harming interests of the people who need employment and commodities of daily use at reasonable prices," she said.

Terming the NDA government as anti-people, Gandhi charged it with raking up non- issues to sidetrack real issues.

Referring to drought, Gandhi said large parts of the country were reeling under it and charged the Centre with not extending help to states to provide relief to affected people.

The Congress president was speaking after launching reconstruction work of a canal at Jawai dam.

PTI