Sonia Gandhi accuses government of 'strangulating democracy', informs Congress Parliamentary Party
New Delhi, December 20: Sonia Gandhi accused the government of suffocating democracy by suspending MPs amid legitimate demands, expressing the Congress's focus for the upcoming general elections during the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in Parliament's Central Hall.
In her address, Gandhi lamented the disappointing outcomes in recent assembly elections, emphasising the need for Congress MPs to convert this dismay into motivation for the imminent general elections. The discussion marked her first comments on the election results.
Following the meeting, Congress MPs staged a protest against the suspension of opposition members near Mahatma Gandhi's statue within the Parliament premises. Sonia Gandhi, addressing the MPs, conveyed her initiative in conducting thorough reviews to comprehend the causes behind the party's poor performance. She emphasised the need to learn from these shortcomings to fortify the organisation.
Acknowledging the challenging circumstances, she expressed faith in the party's resilience and adherence to ideology and values. She highlighted the historical struggle of leaders and urged utilising the disappointment as fuel for the upcoming general election. Gandhi critiqued the BJP government, citing escalating inflation and increasing economic disparities. She criticised the discrepancy between the Prime Minister's economic growth claims and the actual ground situation, pointing to the struggles faced by the underprivileged.
The former Congress leader denounced the Women's Reservation Bill's passage in Parliament with conditions, labeling it as a deceptive move to sway female voters. Urging immediate implementation of women's reservation without delay, she stressed the urgency of this issue. On the Jammu and Kashmir matter, she maintained the Congress's stance, advocating for the immediate restoration of full statehood and prompt elections in the region, emphasising the need for swift action rather than delay.
- With inputs from agencies
