Corruption has grown under NDA, says Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi mounted a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government at the party’s Jan Aakrosh Rally here on Sunday, charging that the roots of corruption had become stronger under NDA rule. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she questioned what had happened to his “Na khaoonga, na khane doonga” (I will not engage in corruption myself, nor allow others to do so) slogan. Mrs Gandhi accused the government of muzzling dissenting voices and dividing communities with an eye on electoral gains. She also cautioned the people to rem-ain “alert” as the country was passing through a “sensitive phase”.

Mrs Gandhi also made a reference to the “serious crisis” that gripped the judiciary, and said: “This government has not left any stone unturned in undermining constitutional institutions. Political rivals are being targeted through government agencies. The media cannot play its role and it is being stopped from doing so.” She added: “But what has happened in the last four years is there before all of us. I feel pained to see that falsehood, hatred and violence is rampant in the country today instead of truth, love and non-violence. Those who raise their voice for justice become victims of the Modi government’s anger.”

Speaking at the Jan Aakrosh Rally, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said democracy was in danger in the country with the Modi government consistently undermining its constitutional institutions. Dr Singh claimed anger among all sections of society had shot up in the past four years due to the rising threat to the safety and security of people and the vanishing employment opportunities, which left the youth worried. He further added pessimism was on the rise across the country, the law and order situation was bad and the atrocities against minorities, dalits and women were on the rise, but the government did not seem perturbed.

Targeting the government, the former PM raised the issue of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, who are accused of defrauding banks, and said “this is affecting the health of banks”. Speaking about the logjam in Parliament, Dr Singh said: “Today an atmosphere is being created where constitutional institutions are being insulted. I have talked about the manner in which Parliament was not allowed to function and how the Budget was passed. The way the ‘no-confidence motion’ by the Opposition was not allowed to be taken up... All this is posing a danger to India’s democracy.”