New Delhi :- In a scathing address to Congress MPs, Sonia Gandhi accused the Modi government of undermining democracy through the suspension of MPs with a legitimate demand, signaling a troubling trend of stifling dissent. Speaking at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in the Central Hall of Parliament, Gandhi expressed deep concern over the recent assembly election results, particularly in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
“The assembly election results have been very disappointing for our party; it’s an understatement,” said Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party. Acknowledging the need for introspection, she mentioned that the Congress president has initiated reviews to understand the reasons for the party’s poor performance and to draw essential lessons for organizational improvement.
Gandhi urged party MPs to channel their disappointment into positive energy for the upcoming general elections, emphasizing the challenges faced and the importance of fortitude and resilience. “Our ideology and values are our guiding light at this difficult time,” she asserted, reminding the MPs of the historical struggles faced by Congress leaders to secure freedom against insurmountable odds.
Addressing the suspension of over 140 opposition MPs from Parliament, who sought Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the December 13 Parliament security breach, Gandhi criticized the unprecedented move. She stated, “Never before have so many Opposition MPs been suspended for raising a perfectly reasonable and legitimate demand.” Gandhi condemned the government’s response to the security breach and highlighted the Prime Minister’s delayed address to the nation outside Parliament.
The former Congress chief expressed disdain for the government’s handling of economic issues, pointing to soaring inflation and rising economic inequalities. Gandhi accused the BJP government of misleading women with the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill and emphasized the immediate implementation of reservations for women.
Sonia Gandhi also reiterated the Congress’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, calling for the restoration of full statehood and immediate elections. She announced an innovative “Donate for Desh” crowdfunding campaign to strengthen the party’s finances ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, encouraging all Indians above 18 to contribute a minimum of Rs 138. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s historic “Tilak Swaraj Fund,” launched over 100 years ago, the campaign aims to mobilize resources for the party’s electoral endeavors.
