Anti-poor, anti-nation forces spreading hatred and violence: Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi said that freedom of expression is in danger and democratic institutions are being ruined.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said “gareeb virodhi ( anti-poor)” and “desh virodhi (anti-nation)” forces are spreading hatred and venom of violence in the country, adding that the influence of dictatorship on democracy has increased in recent past .

In a recorded message, Sonia Gandhi further said “some forces” are trying to derail the country.(ANI)

“Since Independence, we have come a long way, we have faced many problems and also managed to solve them but we are way behind the dreams of our forefathers. In the last few years, there have been attempts to derail our country. There are new challenges in front of our democracy.

“Today the country is at a crossroads. Gareeb virodhi (anti-poor) and desh-virodhi ( anti-nation) forces and those who rule by making people fight each other and have been spreading hatred and venom of violence in the country,” Sonia said during bhumipujan ceremony of the new Chhattisgarh Assembly building.

Gandhi underscored that the freedom of expression is in danger and democratic institutions are being ruined.

“What do they want? They want that the people of India, tribal, youths, women, farmers and small businessmen should not speak. They want to suppress the country’s voice,” she said.

Claiming that the makers of constitution would have never imagined such a crisis, Gandhi said, “ After two years, we will complete 75 years of our Independence, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, JV Mavalankar and Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, along with our forefathers, would have never imagined that after 75 years of Independence we would face such a difficult time,” Gandhi said.

Praising Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Sonia Gandhi said that the state government is taking care of its poorest people.

“After 15 years, the Congress formed a government in Chhattisgarh ….Many of our leaders were martyred. The 15 years of the BJP government is an example that a visionless government can never think about peoples’ benefit. Chhattisgarh is a resourceful state but the misgovernance has made this state the most undeveloped state...I am happy that the Congress government has made several steps in a positive direction for the people of the state,” Gandhi said.

Dharmlal Kaushik, leader of opposition in the legislative assembly, said that the Congress president is misleading the people.

“The party which imposed an Emergency and thousands of people were booked just for speaking has no right to talk about dictatorship. Everyone knows about Sikh riots and who spread venom hence the party should not mislead people,” said Kaushik, who was also present at the ceremony.