Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre, accusing it of strangulating democracy through the mass suspension of Opposition members from both Houses of Parliament. A total of 141 MPs, including 95 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha, faced suspension for creating a ruckus and disrupting proceedings, demanding a statement from Union Minister Amit Shah on the Parliament security breach incident.
Addressing the Congress’s Parliamentary Party Meeting on Wednesday, Sonia Gandhi asserted, “Democracy has been strangulated by this government. Never before have so many Opposition Members of Parliament been suspended from the house, and that too, simply for raising a perfectly reasonable and legitimate demand.”
She criticized the government’s response to the Opposition’s request for a statement on the extraordinary events of December 13, describing the arrogance displayed as unprecedented. Sonia Gandhi pointed out that the incident on December 13 was inexcusable, and the delayed response from the Prime Minister outside of Parliament indicated a disregard for the dignity of the house.
While Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP, refrained from commenting on the suspension of Opposition members, Sonia Gandhi accused the ruling BJP of leading a relentless campaign to distort history and defame national leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru.
Expressing her stance on recent Bills related to Jammu and Kashmir, Sonia Gandhi emphasized the Congress’s commitment to restoring full statehood immediately and conducting elections at the earliest. She urged addressing the aspirations of the people of Ladakh and maintaining the dignity of parliamentary traditions.
On the Women’s Reservation Bill, Sonia Gandhi criticized the government’s approach, stating, “We believe that the passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill with a rider… is an eyewash intended to mislead women and garner their votes while reneging on that which is rightfully owed to them.”
The Congress chairperson expressed happiness over the passage of the Bill to establish a Central Tribal University in Telangana, highlighting the government’s nine-year delay in fulfilling this commitment.
Regarding the party’s setbacks in the recent Assembly elections, Sonia Gandhi acknowledged the challenges faced by the Congress but emphasized the importance of ideology and values as guiding lights. She looked ahead to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and commended the party’s national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, for his leadership.
In her closing remarks, Sonia Gandhi thanked party members for their hard work and support, urging them to channel disappointment into a positive drive for the upcoming general elections. She also acknowledged the innovative campaign launched to strengthen the party’s finances, expressing confidence in its sustained and successful effort.
As the political landscape intensifies, Sonia Gandhi’s critique sets the stage for heightened opposition against the BJP-led government, with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections looming on the horizon.
