Marathwada (Maharashtra), Apr 20 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena of taking the country backward and said these parties remember Lord Rama only during elections.

"It is unfortunate that those invoking the name of secular and democratic ruler like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are those who divide people on the basis of region and religion. These people remember Lord Rama only during elections," Gandhi said while addressing an election rally in Jalana in Marathwada region on Monday.

Gandhi also accused the BJP and the Shiv Sena of being 'communal and parochial'.

"The new generation is fed up of politics of regionalism, casteism and also criminalisation of politics," she added.

Gandhi termed the Indo-US nuclear deal as an achievement of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

"The deal was done on our terms but due to opposition, the country's image tarnished globally," she added.

Gandhi also criticized the BJP and the Shiv Sena for opposing initiatives of the UPA Government on economic liberlisation.

"These people were opposing us and ridiculing us when we were initiating steps like 33 per cent reservation of women, computerisation and IT revolution," Gandhi charged.

Gandhi also recalled the Congress-led UPA Government's achievement during its five-year tenure at the Centre.

"The waiver of Rs. 65,000 crore loan of farmers and providing pension and insurance in unorganised labour sector were the important decisions," she added.

Meanwhile, addressing a rally in Dondaeecha town of Dhule District, Gandhi slammed BJP's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani for releasing the terrorists during the Kandahar plane hijack episode.

"Perhaps their definition of a strong leader is one who was deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister when there were a series of terror attacks including one on Parliament. Arrested terrorists were released and taken to Kandahar as if they were guests," Gandhi said. (ANI)