Use of brute force to suppress dissent unacceptable, says Sonia

Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a televised message on Friday (December 20) accused the BJP government of showing “utter disregard” towards people by using “brute force” to suppress dissent towards the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

“In a democracy, people have the right to raise their voices against wrong policies of the government and register their concerns. Similarly, it is the duty of the government to listen to the people and address their concerns,” she said.

Her statement comes amid widespread protests across the country against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Deaths, incidents of violence and stone-pelting have been reported from various states.

The Congress president said that her party expressed “deep anguish” and concern over the “brute force” unleashed by the government against these protesters.

She further said, “The Citizenship Act is discriminatory and the NRC, which is going to be implemented nationwide, will particularly hurt the poor and the vulnerable.”

“Like what happened with demonetization, people will have to stand in line along with their ancestors to prove their citizenship,” she said, according to new agency ANI.

“The apprehensions of people are legitimate. Our party is fully committed to defending people’s fundamental rights and upholding the foundational values of the Constitution,” she concluded.