Sonia Gandhi calls for unity at all levels, says road ahead more challenging

Congress President Sonia Gandhi called for unity at all levels of the organisation, while noting that the road ahead for the party “is more challenging than ever” and the spirit of resilience of party workers is under severe test.

Addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Gandhi also hit out at the BJP, saying the ruling party’s “divisive agenda” has become a regular feature of political discourse in all states and that history is being “mischievously distorted” to add fuel to its agenda.

“The divisive and polarising agenda of the ruling party and its leaders has now become a regular feature of the political discourse in state after state. History, not just ancient but also contemporary, is mischievously distorted and facts are maliciously invented to add fuel to this agenda. It is for us all to stand up and confront these forces of hate and prejudice,” Gandhi said.

“We will not allow them to damage the bonds of amity and harmony that have sustained and enriched our diverse society for centuries,” Gandhi told party MPs of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

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Accusing the ruling establishment of targeting the opposition, its leaders and workers, Gandhi said that the full might of the state machinery is unleashed against them.

“Maximum governance to those in power clearly means spreading maximum fear and intimidation,” Gandhi said and added “such blatant threats and tactics will neither frighten or silence us nor will we get cowed down”.

The meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, the first one being held after the party’s debacle in recent Assembly elections in five states, is being attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, besides all party MPs in both houses of Parliament.

The Congress has been seeking to corner the government on the issue of inflation and rise in prices of petrol, diesel and LPG gas.

(With inputs from Agencies)