'Govt Has Let Loose Reign Of Oppression, Spreading Hatred': Sonia Gandhi At Opposition Meet

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Monday slammed the Narendra Modi government for “spreading hatred” and “trying to divide people along sectarian lines” during a meeting of opposition parties deliberated on the current political situation following widespread protests against the amended Citizenship Act and the violence on campuses.

Gandhi also alleged that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have misled the people on the CAA and NRC, saying both have contradicted their own statements on these issues.

“The government has let loose reign of oppression, spreading hatred and trying to divide our people along sectarian lines. There's unprecedented turmoil. The Constitution is being undermined and instruments of governance being misused,” Gandhi said in a statement.

“The Prime Minister and the Home Minister have misled the people. They have contradicted their own statements of only weeks ago, and continue with their provocative statements while remaining insensitive to the state suppression and violence that is increasingly becoming commonplace,” the statement added.

Gandhi also there have been nation-wide protests by youth supported by citizens because of the CAA and NRC. “The response of the police in UP and Delhi has been shockingly partisan and brutal,” she said.

The "Modi-Shah government stands totally exposed" for its inability to govern and to provide security to the people, Gandhi alleged.

The nation has watched in horror at the "BJP-orchestrated assault" on JNU after what happened in Jamia, BHU, Allahabad university and AMU, she said Asserting that the NRC seems to have back-fired in Assam, Gandhi said the Modi-Shah government is now focusing on the NPR exercise that is scheduled to begin in a few months.

Contrary to the assertions of the Home Minister, it is clear that this is being done to lead to a nation-wide NRC, she claimed. Stating that the real issue facing India today is the collapse of economic activity, she alleged that the prime minister and the home minister have no answers and want to divert the nation's attention from "this grim reality by raising one divisive and polarizing issue after another".

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, LJD chief Sharad Yadav, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party leader Upendra Kushwaha, RJD leader Manoj Jha, National Conference leader Hasnain Masoodi, besides Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel and former prime minister Manmohan Singh were among those present. The BSP, TMC and AAP stayed away from the opposition meet.

(With PTI inputs)