The manner in which the PM Modi government has unleashed every central agency against opposition leaders demonstrates that India is witnessing the "onset of dictatorship," Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed this morning at a press conference as his party prepared for a large protest over unemployment, price increases, and the goods and services tax, or GST.
Addressing the press, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi said, "We're witnessing the death of democracy. What India has built brick by brick, starting almost a century ago, is being destroyed in front of your eyes. Anybody who stands against this idea of onset of dictatorship is viciously attacked, jailed, arrested & beaten up."
He further stated, "Idea is, people's issues -whether price rise, unemployment, violence in society - must not be raised. That's sole agenda of Govt & Govt is being run to protect interest of 4-5 people & this dictatorship is being run in interest of 2-3 big business people by 2 people."
Slamming Union Finance Minister, Rahul Gandhi said, "I think the macroeconomic fundamentals that she is talking about is something else. I don't think the Finance Minister has any understanding of what is going on in the economy of India, zero understanding. She is there as a mouthpiece."
The Congress organised rallies today over rising prices, unemployment, and a GST rate increase. Party officials want to march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, while state units of the Congress plan similar rallies around the country.
"Anybody speaking against this government is viciously attacked, put in jail; people's issues are not being allowed to be raised," Gandhi alleged. "My job is to resist the idea of the RSS and I am going to do it. The more I do it, the more I will be attacked, the harder I will be attacked. I am happy, attack me," he said.