Meerut: Lashing out at BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) for repeatedly raking up the issue of her foreign origin, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today (Jan 11, 2004) said all she cared was for the people of the country and not for such criticism.

"I don't know why these people (BJP workers) are afraid of a woman. I don't care. I just care for the people," she told reporters in Meerut reacting to BJP's criticism about her foreign origin.

Asked to crystal-gaze on who would form the Government at the Centre after the forthcoming polls, she said, "I can tell that BJP or NDA (National Democratic Alliance) won't form it".

"The polls are a challenge before us (Congress) and we are preparing to face it. Congress workers are charged up," she said shortly before addressing a mass-contact programme of the party.

The Congress launched a three-day mass-contact programme in western Uttar Pradesh yesterday (Jan 10).