BJP-led NDA muzzling voices of opposition: Sonia Gandhi
India's top opposition leader and former Congress party president Sonia Gandhi yesterday attacked the BJP-led NDA government accusing it of muzzling the voices of the opposition.
"Our freedom is under assault. Today we are embracing a regressive vision," Sonia said while delivering her keynote address at the India Today Conclave 2018 in Mumbai.
She alleged "fear and intimidation are order of the day, alternative voices are being silenced, religious tensions are being fuelled, vigilante armies are being let loose with state patronage, society is being polarised with a view to winning election."
Sonia said India is in the midst of "great upheaval" and claimed that the Modi government is using its brute majority in parliament to stifle the voice of the opposition.
"If we are not allowed to speak in parliament, why not shut down parliament so we can all go home. Unlike Vajpayee, this BJP govt doesn't respect parliament procedures," she charged.
She said she was confident about Congress or Congress-led coalition's return to power in the 2019 national elections.
Sonia spoke on a wide range of topics, including her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra Gandhi, her own shortcomings and the role of democracy in India, the first time she has opened up since relinquishing the party president post in December last year.
Sonia acknowledged that Congress also needs to develop a new style of connecting with people at the organisational level.
Speaking about her own role in leadership after Congress came to power in 2004, she said that she knew Manmohan Singh would be better a prime minister than her and that she was aware of her limitations.
Answering a question on the political role of her daughter Priyanka, Sonia said "Priyanka is pre-occupied with her children at the moment. It is up to her and one never knows the future.
Comments