New Delhi: Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday exhorted party leaders to wage a struggle for people’s issues, while noting that democracy is going through “tumultuous times”.
At a meeting of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretaries and state-in-charges, Gandhi said, “There is a designed attack on our Constitution and our democratic traditions. Our country is ruled by a government, which is systematically bartering the interests of our citizens at the altar of profiteering by handful of crony capitalists.”
According to a press statement issued by the Congress, Gandhi spoke about the three farm Acts passed last month, and called them “anti-agriculture black laws”.
“The current BJP government has attacked the very foundation of our resilient agrarian economy by bringing in three anti-agriculture black laws. A conspiracy has been hatched to defeat the gains of Green Revolution,” she said.
“Lives and livelihoods of crores of farm labourers, lease-hold farmers, small and marginal farmers, toiling labourers & small shopkeepers are under attack. It is our solemn duty to join hands to defeat this sinister conspiracy,” Gandhi added.
Several farmers across the country have been protesting against the three Acts. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had joined the protests in Punjab in early October.
‘No strategic thinking for corona’
Gandhi attacked the Modi government for their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The stark truth is that a Prime Minster, who promised to defeat corona within 21 days, has abdicated his and his government’s responsibility towards the citizens. There is neither a plan nor strategic thinking, solution or way ahead in the fight against corona,” she said.
The Congress leader also raised several other issues at the meeting, including the alleged gang rape of a Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district as well as the “free-fall of the country’s GDP”.
“Nearly 14 crore jobs have been lost. Small and medium businesses, small shopkeepers and other small enterprises are shutting at an unprecedented pace, yet an uncaring government remains a mute spectator,” Gandhi said.
The meeting was important as it comes ahead of the Bihar assembly elections and key bypolls in various states, including in 28 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh.
“Sonia ji exhorted everyone to wage a struggle for people’s issues and ameliorating their sufferings as our democracy is passing through most difficult times,” tweeted Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
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