PM Ignores Rising Tide Of Hatred, Not Once Acted To Reign In Offenders: Sonia Gandhi Attacks Modi In Op-Ed

Sonia Gandhi targeted BJP on issue of unemployment and inflation and alleged that PM Modi was in “denial” of Chinese infiltration. She also mentioned of Rahul Gandhi's disqualifications

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched scathing attack on PM Modi and BJP in her op-ed.

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Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday came heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre. In a column written for the national daily, the Hindu, the Congress leader said that the Prime Minister and his government are “systematically dismantling all three pillars of India’s democracy”. In her article, she mentioned the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha, the “misuse” of CBI and ED, and Rijiju’s “anti-national” statement against retired judges. 

Sonia Gandhi also targeted the saffron party on the issue of unemployment and inflation saying Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made no mention of the same during her budget speech. 

She also alleged that PM Modi was in “denial” of Chinese infiltration and that the government was blocking discussion on the same in the Parliament. 

In her op-ed, Gandhi also attacked BJP's parent organisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh saying "The Prime Minister ignores the rising tide of hatred and violence, egged on by BJP and RSS leaders, and has not once called for peace or harmony, or acted to reign in offenders, let alone bring them to justice." 

Gandhi also attacked the government over Interpol withdrawing notice against Mehul Choksi and convicts of the Bilkis Bano rape case sharing the stage with BJP leaders. 

“The people of India have learned that when it comes to understanding today’s situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions speak far louder than his words. His statements — when he is not venting anger on the Opposition or blaming past leaders for today’s ills — either ignore the most pressing, vital issues of the day or are platitudes and verbal gymnastics to gloss over or distract from these issues,” Gandhi started her column with these remarks. 

In her write-up, Gandhi alleged PM Modi and the BJP of “systematically dismantling all three pillars of India’s democracy” with their “actions demonstrating a deep-rooted disdain for democracy and democratic accountability.” 

“In the last session, we saw a government-led strategy to disrupt Parliament and prevent the Opposition from raising issues of grave concern to the country and its people, such as unemployment, inflation, and social divisions, and discussing the year’s Budget and the Adani scam among other vital issues,” she wrote. 

She also claimed that over 95% of political cases filed with ED and CBI are against the Opposition while “cases against those who join the BJP miraculously evaporate.”

The senior Congress leader said that the media’s independence “has long been compromised by the political intimidation of the government coupled with the financial might of the BJP’s friends, with evening debates on news channels emerging as slanging matches to shout down and silence those who question the government.”

Referring to the Supreme Court’s statement that criticism of the government is not grounds for penal action, Gandhi said “An army of lawyers from the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) stand ready to harass any platform which publishes criticism of the Great Leader.”

“Despite the Prime Minister’s best efforts, the people of India cannot and will not be silenced. The next few months are a crucial test of our democracy. Our nation is at the crossroads, with the Narendra Modi government bent on misusing every power and elections in several key States,” she wrote. 

“The Congress party will make every effort to take its message directly to the people, as it did in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and will join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution of India and its ideals,” she added.