Bluff, intimidation have been NDA’s philosophy: Sonia
NEWDELHI: Hitting out at the Narendra Modi government, the United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that “bluff, bluster and intimidation” have been its governance philosophy whereas “truth and transparency have been brazenly tossed aside”.
Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party’s (CPP) general body meet, Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government over issues ranging from economic stress, job crisis, institutional autonomy and social harmony, among others.
“The last five years have been a time of unprecedented economic stress and social strain for our country. The very foundations of our democratic republic, of our secular republic have come under systematic assault by the Modi government... institutions have been subverted. Political opponents have been hounded. Dissent has been suppressed. Freedom of speech... has been sought to be curtailed.. .People with opinions different from the ruling establishment have been victimised,” Gandhi said.
She claimed alienation in Jammu and Kashmir scaled new heights during the tenure of BJPled National Democratic Alliance, a remark on the rise in militancy-related incidents in the state which is currently under President’s Rule.
Gandhi further alleged Parliament itself has been immeasurably weakened by the government with debates and discussion being muzzled. “The institution of standing committees has all but disappeared. The route of the Money Bill, described by one Supreme Court judge as a ‘fraud on the Constitution’, has been resorted to so often to escape scrutiny in both Houses.”
The BJP declined to comment.