New Delhi: Attacking Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on August 21 described her as a "reader" unfit to become the country's leader.

"She (Sonia) is still a reader. Only those making maiden speeches are allowed to read out but she has been doing it for the last five years and even during the no-confidence motion against the government she twice took permission from the Chair to read out her speech," party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters.

He said this was enough to convince the masses and the country as to "how such a person can be leader of the country".

Rebutting Sonia's charges that the government was selling off all profit-making public sector undertakings (PSUs), he asked her as to why her party's government in Punjab sold off to a British company the state-owned Tractors India, which had last year made a profit of Rs 120 crore and was rated number two in the country.

He said the BJP was preparing a note on profit-making PSUs sold by the Congress-ruled state governments.

The BJP leader also hit out at the Congress for wasting over 40 per cent of Parliament's precious time in the current session by stalling the proceedings.

"They owe an explanation for this undemocratic action," he said.

Expressing concern over the Congress boycott of Rajya Sabha despite the Prime Minister having given a reply in one of the Houses as demanded by them, Malhotra asked the party to reconsider its decision.

PTI