Saturday, May 14 2005 17:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jind (Haryana): Attacking the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) for its boycott of Parliament, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today (May 14, 2005) said it had not played the role of a responsible Opposition, but evinced satisfaction over the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government performance given the "compulsions" of a coalition.

"The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led Opposition is not playing a constructive role and they are not working sincerely though they talk big things. They boycotted the session (of Parliament) and did not behave like a responsible Opposition," the UPA Chairperson said in Haryana.

"Despite this, we will not allow any weakness to creep in when it comes to implementing our policies and programmes," she said, addressing a "Dhanyavad Rally" to thank the people of Haryana for returning to power after nearly a decade with an overwhelming majority in the February 3 Assembly elections.

In a broadside attack on the BJP, Gandhi said, "Our opponents used to say the Congress could not form a Government at the Centre. We not only did that, but showed them we could run it smoothly".

She said there were the "compulsions of a coalition Government", but expressed satisfaction at the way the UPA regime had been functioning over the past one year.

"The UPA Government headed by (Prime Minister) Dr Manmohan Singh has almost completed one year in office and we have implemented several schemes for the welfare of the masses," Gandhi said.

Unemployment was a big challenge facing the country today and the UPA regime would deal with it firmly, she assured.