New Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi alleged Wednesday that ‘bluff, bluster and intimidation’ have been Modi government’s philosophy and hailed party president Rahul Gandhi for taking opponents ‘head-on’.
Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party’s general body meeting, Sonia also praised her son for bringing in fresh energy and putting together a team which blends experience and youth.
In a blistering attack on the Centre, Sonia alleged that there is an ‘all-pervasive atmosphere of fear and strife’ across the country.
“We go to the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls with renewed confidence and resolve. Our victories in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have given us new hope,” she said at the meeting attended by Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress’ leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad among others.
“Our opponents were earlier projected as being invincible. The Congress president took them head on, mobilising and motivating lakhs of our workers who, with him, gave their all. We won in what were believed to be their strongholds,” Sonia pointed out.
Slamming the Modi dispensation, the Congress Parliamentary Party leader said the foundations of ‘our democratic and secular republic’ have come under ‘systematic assault’ by the government.
“Institutions have been subverted. Political opponents have been hounded. Dissent has been suppressed. Freedom of speech – the most basic of all freedoms – has been sought to be curtailed and silenced,” the UPA chairperson said.
“Bluff, bluster and intimidation have been the governance philosophy of the Modi government. Truth and transparency have been brazenly tossed aside,” added Sonia.
The last five years have been a time of unprecedented economic stress and social strain for the country, the former Congress president said.
Sonia also praised Rahul for his leadership after taking over the reins of the party in December 2017.
“He (Rahul Gandhi) has worked tirelessly. He has also reached out to other political parties who share our vision of India, our agenda for faster economic growth with full social justice, our agenda for the welfare of kisans and khet-mazdoors, women and youth, workers in the organised and unorganised sector,” the UPA chairperson pointed out.
Sonia, in her remarks at the meeting, said the people of the country were wise and knows that ‘jumlabaazi’ (rhetoric) is no substitute for sensitive and responsive governance. They have seen through and experienced the results of the many lies told to them, she stated.
“Our political adversaries have unlimited resources at their command. They will have no scruples and will stoop to anything to ensure that our forward march is halted. We will not allow them to succeed. We will confront them, we will fight them with all the vigour at our command and more,” Sonia asserted.
PTI
