‘Brute repression’ unacceptable: Sonia
NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday accused the government of “unleashing brute repression” against students, the youth and other citizens protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, insisting that it was “unacceptable” in a democracy.
She also likened the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) to demonetisation, saying the people will have to stand in line to prove their and their ancestors’ citizenship. It is the duty of the government to listen to the citizens and address their concerns, she said in a televised statement .
It was a rare instance of Gandhi, who turned 73 on December 9, issuing a televised statement. A Congress functionary said the move was cleared by her two days ago after she received feedback that protests against the CAA were spreading and the Congress should stand by those at the forefront of the protests.
“Though she had issued statements in the last few days, it was felt that her views need to be reiterated through a televised address to the nation since she is not on social media,” the functionary said on condition of anonymity, adding the move had been endorsed by the party’s core group. In her message, Gandhi expressed “deep anguish and concern over the brute repression” that she alleged had been unleased by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government against the youth and other citizens across the country.
“There have been spontaneous protests in the universities, IITs {Indian Institutes of Technology}, IIMs {Indian Institutes of Management} and other leading institutions throughout the country against the divisive agenda and anti-people policies of the BJP government,” she said.
The main opposition party has decided to organise rallies and peace marches across the country from next week. It will undertake a flag march in all states on December 28, its foundation day.
“In a democracy, people have a right to raise their voice against wrong decisions and policies of the government and register their concerns. Equally, it is the duty of the government to listen to the citizens and address their concerns. The BJP government has shown utter disregard for people’s voices and chosen to use brute force to suppress dissent. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” she said.
The Congress party condemns the actions of the government and expresses solidarity with the students and citizens of India in their struggle, Gandhi added.
“The CAA is discriminatory and the proposed nation-wide NRC will hurt the vulnerable. Like at the time of ‘note-bandi’, {banknote ban} they will have to stand in line to prove their citizenship. People’s apprehensions are real and legitimate.”
Later in the evening, her daughter and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the protests at Delhi’s India Gate.“CAA and NRC are against the poor. What will the daily wage labourers do?” she asked.