``The policies of the Centre are anti-farmer and this was reflected in the Union budget which hiked the prices of urea and other agricultural inputs,'' she said. It was only after Congress' protest that urea prices were lowered, she added.

Sonia, who was addressing a delegation of party leaders and workers here, accused the Vajpayee government of failing to improve irrigation facilities and expressed sympathy with the plight of farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Congress, if voted back to power, would give priority to alleviate hardships of farmers, Sonia declared.

In a veiled attack on the Sangh Parivar, she said it did not relish the country's composite culture. ``They want to see only one colour. But the speciality of the national culture is that itconsists of many colours and this is perfectly represented by our parliamentary form of democracy,'' Sonia added.

She asked Congressmen to be vigilant about threats to the country's unity. ``We must be proud of our unity in diversity and preserve it at any cost,'' she said.

Referring to nuclear tests at Pokharan in May, Sonia said Congress was opposed to existence and usage of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world. ``We do not want nuclear weapons anywhere in the world,'' she said.

Congratulating the scientists of the Pokharan tests, she said, ``Science and technology should be used for the country's progress as the common man finds himself secure only in progress and development, which can be achieved only in peace.''

She said Congress had always adopted a policy of consensus on the country's nuclear policy.

Referring to the bill providing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, the Congress president said her party would back its adoption in Parliament.

Commenting on the Ayodhyaissue, Sonia said it could be solved by the court verdict and Congress would abide by it.

Sonia, who is now here to discuss the party's strategy for the Rajasthan Assembly elections in November, said Congress could capture power in the state if it was united and avoided the mistakes made in 1993, when it fell short of majority.

She said wider representation would be given to women and youth while choosing candidates for the Assembly poll. Nominations would be given to party workers on the basis of their merit and work and not on ``the blessings of their godfathers,'' she added.