Sonia slams Modi govt for politics of fear, vendetta

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi government of creating an “atmosphere of fear and vendetta”, coming down hard on the hard line policy being followed in Kashmir.

Sonia was speaking at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) — the party’s top decision-making body. Attended by leaders including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, AK Antony, P Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad, the CWC discussed topical issues such as the Presidential elections, and the ratification of organisational elections. Rahul Gandhi is expected to take over as party President at the end of the party polls.

Sonia and Singh led the party’s attack on the Centre, focusing on the adverse impact on the economy from demonetisation, the growing crisis in Kashmir and “vendetta politics”.

The BJP promptly returned fire, advising the Congress to reflect on the “inadequacies” of “the heir apparent Rahul Gandhi” and party organisation after its defeat in recent Assembly polls. Jeering at the Congress, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra specifically attacked former Finance Minister P Chidambaram for his recent comments on Army chief Bipin Rawat.

Kashmir policy under fire Chidambaram had referred to as “intemperate” the Army Chief’s defence of an officer’s use of a Kashmiri civilian as a human shield in Kashmir. On the other hand, BJP President Amit Shah had lauded the officer, Major Leetul Gogoi. The Congress attacked the government for its “policy of confrontation and alienation” in the strife-torn Valley.

On the matter, Sonia said the was an instance of the “colossal failure” of the Modi government.

“We are facing a rise in cross-border terrorism. The insensitive handling of the situation by both the State and Central governments are systematically alienating and antagonising the local population, especially the youth. A divisive agenda is being followed which has undone years of goodwill and progress. A large number of jawans and civilians have lost their lives or have been injured, young people have even been blinded. It is therefore imperative that the government addresses the crisis, corrects its flawed approach, works in earnest to rebuild and restore normalcy to regain the trust of the people,” the Congress President said.

‘Whither social welfare?’ Sonia had strong words against what she said was “abandonment” of the social welfare programmes which, coupled with “experiments” such as demonetisation, have caused immense hardship to the people. The Congress chief said the “narrow-mindedness” of the BJP’s social agenda is only matched by the government’s policies characterised by “poor planning and shoddy implementation”.

“Where there was harmony, there is discord. Where there was tolerance, there is provocation. Where there was relative calm, as in Kashmir, there is growing confrontation, tension and fear. Where there was economic potential, there is stagnation. Where there was rich diversity, there is a brazen campaign to strait-jacket the whole country into a regressive and narrow-minded world-view,” Sonia said.

Briefing the media later, Congress General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad referred to the CBI searches on NDTV as an instance of suppression of press freedom and dissent.

Cong guilty of duplicity: BJP The BJP responded by saying that the Centre would act against the corrupt as opposed to the Congress which “looted the country”.

“I am surprised that the Congress, which imposed the Emergency, presided over the 1984 riots, should now talk about fear, raids and vendetta. Any action that is being taken on an individual or corporation is part of Modiji’s na khaoonga na khane doonga (I will neither take bribes, nor will I permit another to) principle. I ask the Congress: who gave money to Vijay Mallya? TV channels have shown how Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram advocated release of loans to Mallya,” said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.

The main focus of Patra’s attack was Rahul Gandhi whom he referred to as “inadequate and unfit”. “The two most powerful members of the Congress first family — Sonia and Rahul Gandhi — are out on bail. The fact is that they looted the country. We got 325 seats in UP because of Modi ji ’s pro-poor policies while the Congress was rejected. They should introspect. Even after this kind of victory, our [party] President is still touring the country while Rahul Gandhi goes on a holiday,” said the BJP spokesperson.

COMMENT NOW