New Delhi: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s olive branch expressing apprehension that “forces of darkness” were emerging and posing a threat to social justice and freedom
of expression.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday just after the Prime Minister suggested that some developmental issues could be considered above party lines, Sonia hit out at the BJP-led government, asking whether attempts are
being made to destroy the roots of democracy and a law-based system.
The Congress president also took a veiled dig at RSS, making a reference to organisations that opposed the Quit India movement and played no role in the freedom movement, as she sought to highlight the contribution of the
Indian National Congress during the freedom struggle.
“The anniversary of the Quit India movement reminds us that we cannot and will not allow the idea of India to be a prisoner to narrow mindedness, divisive and communal ideology”, Sonia Gandhi said, reading her speech in
Hindi.
Reiterating Congress’s oft-repeated attack on BJP-RSS for not being part of the freedom struggle, Sonia pointed to the contributions of Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The reference to Nehru was a “correction” of sorts as Congress netas accuse BJP of seeking to whittle down the role of India’s first PM in the freedom movement and thereafter.
“Jawaharlal Nehru had spent his longest jail term (during the movement) and many Congress activists could not even come out of prison due to illness,” she said. Sonia said there was a feeling that “clouds of the politics of
division and hate” are hovering over plural and egalitarian values enshrined in the Constitution.
While other opposition leaders also questioned the government on its commitment to combat communalism, Sonia was sharp and upfront in adopting a partisan note.
“It seems secular, democratic and liberal values are being endangered. The public space for debate and difference of opinion is shrinking. Many times, illegal forces appear to be dominating the rule of law,” she said.
Taking a dig at RSS without naming the organisation, she said, “We should not forget that there were people and organisations which had opposed the Quit India movement. Such elements did not contribute in getting our country
freedom”.
BJP member Kirron Kher shouted “travesty, travesty”, as Gandhi made these remarks but was signalled from the treasury benches to remain quiet. The Congress has often accused the RSS of playing no role in the freedom
movement, a charge vehemently denied by the latter.
