"If the Vajpayee-led coalition government is honest and bold, it should accede to the demand of Congress and some of its own partners for a probe," she said addressing a public rally organised on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Rajasthan's Foundation Day.

"It is unfortunate that several ministers in the Central Government are found immersed in corruption and the standard of Defence Ministry is degraded," she told the rally organised by the Pradesh Congress at the historic Ram Niwas Garden here.

Sonia said "the Congress always played the role of a responsible Opposition and whenever we exposed the wrong policies and corruption in the ministries, the Vajpayee government has panicked."

The Congress president, who was on her maiden visit to Rajasthan, after the assumption of office of the Gehlot ministry, said "thosewho do not know and fulfill their responsibility, always blames others. They have a chronic disease, which makes them find fault with the Congress, because we expose their incompetence and non-governance."

The Vajpayee government, she said, was "caught in a spider's web where it has only one job, that is how to make allies happy and prosperous so that they would remain in power."

Criticising the Union Budget, she said it had sent prices sky-rocketing.

Continuing her attack on the Vajpayee government, she said it was not clear what the ruling coalition's policies were for the poor.

Referring to the thumping victory of the Congress in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Sonia said "you have given a befitting reply to the fascist and communal forces in the last Assembly elections, and now this is required in other states, where the Congress is not in power."

Recalling Rajiv's contribution to rural development, Sonia said "democracy could not be successful unless the Panchayati Raj system getsimplemented in all other states."

Sonia said she was sure the Gehlot government would provide an able administration which would make people aware of the difference between the old and the new governments.