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Power-drunk Modi government tried to destroy Congress: Sonia

IANS  |  New Delhi 

on Saturday tore into the "arrogant", "power-drunk", "dictatorial" BJP government, accusing it of using all means to destroy the opposition.

In a hard-hitting 15-minute speech at the plenary, accused the of working to finish the in the nearly four years of its rule.

"In the last four years, to destroy the Congress, the arrogant and drunk-with-power has left no stone unturned. There is open play of allurement, money, repression and division (saam, daam, dand, bhed) but the has never bowed to arrogance of power and will never bow in the future," she said.

"Rather, the is putting up a struggle to expose the dictatorial ways of the Modi government, its neglect of Constitution, disrespect of Parliament, false cases against the opposition and its harassment of the media."

She said Narendra Modi's 2014 slogans of 'development for all' and 'no tolerance for graft' were gimmicks to grab power.

asked party workers to stoutly face the challenges for its victory in the upcoming electoral battles and again make the a party that sets the fundamental agenda of the country.

Extending her good wishes to her son Rahul Gandhi, who took over as in December, said party workers will have to work unitedly and collectively under him for success in the face of "difficult struggles" facing the party.

She accused Modi of indulging in "dramabaazi" (gimmicks)" to earn votes.

"We are exposing the false claims, fraud and corruption of the and his associates with proofs. People have understood that the promises of 2014 of sabka saath, sabka vikas', na khaunga, na khanedunga were only gimmicks to earn votes and come to power," Gandhi said.

With the facing a tough battle in 2019 polls, Gandhi referred to the party changing its political approach in tune with the times which had reaped electoral success.

She said the party had decided against forming alliances at its Panchmarhi Chitin Shivir in 1998 but decided to work with like-minded parties at the Shimla Chintin Shivir in 2003. "Due to this, we achieved a feat, which people thought was impossible."

also referred to victory of former in by-election in 1978 to Chikamagalur seat in and said it had overturned the country's and the reemerged as a powerful party.

"I have full faith that in the assembly polls, our party will again perform so well that it gives new direction to the of the country."

Referring to the challenges, she said it was not the time to think of personal egos and ambitions but to see "what all of us, each one of us, what we can do for the party.

"The victory of party will be the victory of the country, it will be victory of all of us."

The said party workers in states not ruled by the party were struggling hard to expose the failures of these governments despite facing atrocities.

"It is the that stays connected to people, stands with them. It is the which raises voice against oppression."

Gandhi said the party was faced with difficult struggle when a new chapter is being added to the glorious history of the party.

"The challenges before the and all of us are not ordinary. We have to face them with determination.

"We have to struggle to make an which is free of fear, free of abuse of power. An where each person has dignity of life, an free of partiality, an free of feeling of revenge, an free of repression. For this every has to be prepared for every sacrifice."

She said should become a party that once again represents the aspirations and expectations of all the communities and Ais the anchor of the political and social dialogue of the country."

Referring to the party's performance in and in by-polls in and Madhya Pradesh, she said people who wanted to finish the had no idea about the depth of affection among people for it.

She referred to the programmes of and said it pains her that Modi govenrment was "diluting" them.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sat, March 17 2018. 19:44 IST
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