``We strongly refute the statements of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani that the Congress has fractured the consensus on foreign policy. We maintain that the BJP Government is solely and wholly responsible for fracturing the consensus. The inept handling of post-Pokhran-II diplomacy is entirely responsible for India's isolation unlike in 1974 when Indira Gandhi made the entire nation proud of the nuclear tests,'' Congress spokesperson Ajit Jogi said today.

The party added: ``In 1998, the 40-day-old Vajpayee Government wanted to say Pokhran-II was the result of their work instead of giving credit to our scientists and the work of successive Congress governments. That was the beginning of the fracturing of consensus. Vajpayee must note that it is more theresponsibility of the party in power than the party in opposition.''

The charges being levelled against each other by the BJP and the Congress on this issue is an indication of how things have worsened on the foreign affairs front with the Congress sending its delegations to South Africa and China. This was criticised by the BJP and the Congress swiftly reacted to this too.

``We would like to remind Vajpayee that party-to-party delegations, which are called goodwill missions, are a routine and normal practice. In the last 50 years, delegations have been coming and going. In 1993, Brajesh Mishra, now the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary, led a delegation to China. George Fernandes, Defence Minister, too has led a number of delegations to various countries. Congress too has been sending teams time and again and there is nothing unusual about it,'' Jogi added.

The party has announced an exhibition-cum-auction of souvenirs at the AICC headquarters. The auction will be held on September 24 at the AICCheadquarters.

An auction of BJP chief Kushabhau Thakre's shawls had earlier netted nearly Rs 5 lakh. The Congress hopes to better that sum. A statement said: ``Congress leaders have been receiving gifts and souvenirs from various foreign dignitaries, political leaders, Congress workers, craftsmen and the common man. We today feel that these souvenirs should not remain our property alone and the sentiments and emotions associated with these items should be shared with our fellow countrymen.''