NEW DELHI: Congress parliamentary chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday targeted the government on handling of various issues, including the Union Budget, Manipur violence, caste census, and recent attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
While addressing the CPP meeting, the former Congress chief accused the government of being “self-delusional” and failing to learn from their “decline” in the Lok Sabha polls.
Here’s what she said:
On Wayanad landslides
Sonia Gandhi offered her condolences to the families of people who lot their lives in the deadly landslides in Wayanad. She also highlighted the loss of lives due to railway accidents caused by mismanagement.
“Let me first of all extend our deepest condolences to the families bereaved by the horrendous calamity that has overtaken Wayanad. The scale of devastation has been staggering. Our colleagues in the state have mobilised themselves for providing all assistance,” she said.
“There have been huge floods in other parts of the country as well and we extend our sympathies to the affected families. Apart from natural disasters, our people continue to lose their lives in railway accidents that are caused by mismanagement. Our thoughts are with these victims as well,” she added.
On Union Budget 2024
Sonia Gandhi accused the government of ignoring the demands of farmers and youth in the Union Budget.
“Pressing demands of farmers and youth in particular, have been totally ignored. Allocations in a number of vital sectors have not done justice to the tasks required to be fulfilled. There has been widespread disappointment, in spite of the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and others to talk up the Budget and its so-called accomplishments,” Sonia said.
“The Union government, especially its top leadership, continues to be self-delusional as crores of families across the country are devastated by mounting unemployment and price rise,” she added.
On caste census
On the issue of caste census, Sonia Gandhi criticized the government’s lack of intention to conduct the census, which was last due in 2021. She pointed out that this would prevent an up-to-date estimate of the population, especially of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, and deny benefits to at least 12 crore citizens under the National Food Security Act of 2013.
“It is clear that the government has no intention whatsoever to conduct the Census that was last due in 2021. This will prevent us from having an up-to-date estimate of the population of the country, especially of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. It also means that at least 12 crore of our citizens are denied the benefit of the National Food Security Act of 2013 – now repackaged as PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” Sonia Gandhi said.
Jibe at PM Modi
Sonia Gandhi accused the government of dividing communities and spreading fear and animosity.
“We would have hoped that the Modi Government would draw the right lessons from their significant decline in the Lok Sabha elections. Instead, they are persisting with their policy of dividing communities and spreading an atmosphere of fear and animosity. Fortunately, the Supreme Court intervened at the right time. But this can only be a temporary respite. Look at how the rules have been suddenly changed to permit the bureaucracy to participate in the activities of the RSS. It calls itself a cultural organization but the whole world knows that it is the BJP’s political and ideological base,” Sonia said.
On paper leaks
She also raised concerns about the exposure of flaws in competitive examinations and the erosion of autonomy in educational organizations like NCERT, UGC, and constitutional bodies like UPSC.
“Education has been amongst the worst casualties in the past years. Instead of taking the nation forward, the entire educational system is being shown up as flawed and manipulated. The exposure of how competitive examinations have been allowed has destroyed the faith of lakhs of youth and dealt their future a body blow. The professional character and autonomy of organizations like the NCERT, UGC and even of Constitutional bodies like the UPSC has been all-but-destroyed,” she said.
On national security
On national security, Sonia Gandhi highlighted the recent terror attacks in the Jammu and Kashmir, questioning the government’s claims of normalcy in the region. She also criticized the Prime Minister for not visiting Manipur to address the ongoing crisis.
Sonia Gandhi says, “There is deeply disturbing news in national security issues. Over the past few weeks, there have been at least eleven terror attacks in the Jammu region alone. There have been similar attacks in the Valley as well. Security personnel and a large number of civilians have lost their lives. This makes a mockery of the claims being made by the Modi Government is all in well in J&K. The situation in Manipur shows no sign of any improvement. The Prime Minister travels the world over, but steadfastly refuses to go to the state and take the initiative to bring about normalcy.”
Message to party workers
Sonia Gandhi urged party workers to sustain the momentum generated in the Lok Sabha elections and work unitedly with a sense of purpose in the upcoming state elections. She emphasized that a strong performance could lead to a transformation in national politics.
“In a few months, elections will be held in four states. We must sustain the momentum and goodwill that had been generated for us in the Lok Sabha elections. We must not become complacent and over-confident. The ‘mahaul’ does favour us, but we have to work unitedly with a sense of purpose. I dare say that if we perform well, reflecting the trend that we witnessed in the Lok Sabha elections, national politics will undergo a transformation,” Sonia told party workers.
While addressing the CPP meeting, the former Congress chief accused the government of being “self-delusional” and failing to learn from their “decline” in the Lok Sabha polls.
Here’s what she said:
On Wayanad landslides
Sonia Gandhi offered her condolences to the families of people who lot their lives in the deadly landslides in Wayanad. She also highlighted the loss of lives due to railway accidents caused by mismanagement.
“Let me first of all extend our deepest condolences to the families bereaved by the horrendous calamity that has overtaken Wayanad. The scale of devastation has been staggering. Our colleagues in the state have mobilised themselves for providing all assistance,” she said.
“There have been huge floods in other parts of the country as well and we extend our sympathies to the affected families. Apart from natural disasters, our people continue to lose their lives in railway accidents that are caused by mismanagement. Our thoughts are with these victims as well,” she added.
On Union Budget 2024
Sonia Gandhi accused the government of ignoring the demands of farmers and youth in the Union Budget.
“Pressing demands of farmers and youth in particular, have been totally ignored. Allocations in a number of vital sectors have not done justice to the tasks required to be fulfilled. There has been widespread disappointment, in spite of the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and others to talk up the Budget and its so-called accomplishments,” Sonia said.
“The Union government, especially its top leadership, continues to be self-delusional as crores of families across the country are devastated by mounting unemployment and price rise,” she added.
On caste census
On the issue of caste census, Sonia Gandhi criticized the government’s lack of intention to conduct the census, which was last due in 2021. She pointed out that this would prevent an up-to-date estimate of the population, especially of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, and deny benefits to at least 12 crore citizens under the National Food Security Act of 2013.
“It is clear that the government has no intention whatsoever to conduct the Census that was last due in 2021. This will prevent us from having an up-to-date estimate of the population of the country, especially of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. It also means that at least 12 crore of our citizens are denied the benefit of the National Food Security Act of 2013 – now repackaged as PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” Sonia Gandhi said.
Jibe at PM Modi
Sonia Gandhi accused the government of dividing communities and spreading fear and animosity.
“We would have hoped that the Modi Government would draw the right lessons from their significant decline in the Lok Sabha elections. Instead, they are persisting with their policy of dividing communities and spreading an atmosphere of fear and animosity. Fortunately, the Supreme Court intervened at the right time. But this can only be a temporary respite. Look at how the rules have been suddenly changed to permit the bureaucracy to participate in the activities of the RSS. It calls itself a cultural organization but the whole world knows that it is the BJP’s political and ideological base,” Sonia said.
On paper leaks
She also raised concerns about the exposure of flaws in competitive examinations and the erosion of autonomy in educational organizations like NCERT, UGC, and constitutional bodies like UPSC.
“Education has been amongst the worst casualties in the past years. Instead of taking the nation forward, the entire educational system is being shown up as flawed and manipulated. The exposure of how competitive examinations have been allowed has destroyed the faith of lakhs of youth and dealt their future a body blow. The professional character and autonomy of organizations like the NCERT, UGC and even of Constitutional bodies like the UPSC has been all-but-destroyed,” she said.
On national security
On national security, Sonia Gandhi highlighted the recent terror attacks in the Jammu and Kashmir, questioning the government’s claims of normalcy in the region. She also criticized the Prime Minister for not visiting Manipur to address the ongoing crisis.
Sonia Gandhi says, “There is deeply disturbing news in national security issues. Over the past few weeks, there have been at least eleven terror attacks in the Jammu region alone. There have been similar attacks in the Valley as well. Security personnel and a large number of civilians have lost their lives. This makes a mockery of the claims being made by the Modi Government is all in well in J&K. The situation in Manipur shows no sign of any improvement. The Prime Minister travels the world over, but steadfastly refuses to go to the state and take the initiative to bring about normalcy.”
Message to party workers
Sonia Gandhi urged party workers to sustain the momentum generated in the Lok Sabha elections and work unitedly with a sense of purpose in the upcoming state elections. She emphasized that a strong performance could lead to a transformation in national politics.
“In a few months, elections will be held in four states. We must sustain the momentum and goodwill that had been generated for us in the Lok Sabha elections. We must not become complacent and over-confident. The ‘mahaul’ does favour us, but we have to work unitedly with a sense of purpose. I dare say that if we perform well, reflecting the trend that we witnessed in the Lok Sabha elections, national politics will undergo a transformation,” Sonia told party workers.