The gloves are off. Under attack from all sides for the action against Ramdev, Sonia Gandhi now plans an offensive to counter the after-effects and take on the communal and other forces who, it charged, have joined hands to weaken democratic institutions. “The party has accepted the challenge,” said general secretary Janardan Dwivedi after Gandhi met office-bearers, state in-charges and the four ministers who were talking to Ramdev to call off his fast.