Sonia Gandhi Criticizes Government’s Suspension of MPs, Decries Erosion of Democracy in Fiery Address

New Delhi,20-12-2023 : Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, accused the government of “strangulating democracy” by suspending MPs over what she deemed a legitimate demand. Addressing party MPs at a meeting in the Central Hall of Parliament, Gandhi expressed disappointment in the recent assembly election results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. She urged party members to channel this disappointment into a positive drive for the upcoming general elections, emphasizing the importance of fortitude and resilience in facing enormous challenges.

This marked the first time Sonia Gandhi spoke on the assembly poll results, highlighting the Congress president’s ongoing reviews to understand the reasons behind the party’s poor performance and draw necessary lessons. Despite facing significant challenges, Gandhi expressed confidence in the party’s ideology and values as guiding lights during this difficult time.

Regarding the suspension of over 140 opposition MPs from Parliament demanding Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the December 13 Parliament security breach, Gandhi criticized the government’s response, calling the demand “perfectly reasonable and legitimate.” She highlighted the inexcusable nature of the events on December 13 and criticized the Prime Minister for addressing the nation outside Parliament after four days, indicating disdain for the dignity of the House.

In response to the suspension, Congress MPs held a protest against the government’s actions. Gandhi also took the opportunity to criticize the BJP government over inflation and economic inequalities, pointing out a significant gap between the prime minister’s claims on economic growth and ground reality.

Gandhi addressed the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, calling it an eyewash to mislead women and garner votes, emphasizing the need for immediate implementation of women’s reservation without delay. She reiterated the Congress’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, advocating for the immediate restoration of full statehood and early elections in the region.

Additionally, Sonia Gandhi discussed the Congress’s innovative “Donate for Desh” crowdfunding campaign, encouraging MPs to contribute to strengthen the party’s finances ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The campaign allows donations from all Indians above 18 years, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s historic “Tilak Swaraj Fund” launched over 100 years ago. Gandhi expressed confidence that this campaign would be a sustained and successful effort, aligning with the party’s vision for financial empowerment.