New Delhi: A combative Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday mounted a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of running a government "of some people, by one person for a select few" and said he has not much to showcase even as the government completes one year.
Accusing the prime minister of centralising power, she added, "It is a government by one person and for select few. The government is setting out to systematically alter proceedings on RTI act," she added.
Addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Gandhi, who is also CPP Chairperson took repeated digs at the Modi dispensation over issues like centralisation of power, lack of substantial growth on the economic front and acting with "obstinate arrogance" in Parliament and criticism of previous governments by the Prime Minister on foreign soil.
"What do they deserve credit for? They deserve credit for the most anti-farmer legislative amendments to our Land Acquisition Bill. They deserve credit for ignoring the severe plight of farmers throughout the country in a show of callous unconcern that has never been seen before," she said.
"They deserve credit for creating the most centralised government in India's recent history. Ministers hardly matter. Even the bureaucrats, who are supposedly empowered, feel paralysed because all key files are pending in the PMO for decision," she said.
Gandhi, who is seeking to move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on the issue of keeping vacant critical appointments in the government, wondered "what is this government afraid of?"
She said those appointments in government structure, which have independent authority to question the working of the government machinery, were specially lying vacant.
"Friends, the challenge to us is very clear. We are faced with a government, which assaults everything precious that India and the Congress stands for... We must take the fight for and expose this government on its other sins of omission and commission."
Taking a jibe at Modi, she said the Prime Minister likes to talk of consensus. "Yet ignoring convention, this government acts with obstinate arrogance. Such arrogance is also apparent when forcing its way in Parliament. Out of 51 bills, 43 have not been sent to the Standing Committee," she said.
The Congress President's remarks come at a time when there is a face off between the Government and the Opposition over referring the key GST bill to the Standing Committee.
Citing two examples, she said recently the government imposed AFSPA in Arunchal Pradesh "without even informing the Chief Minister" and they were earlier planning to go through the Bangladesh Land Agreement excluding Assam.
Gandhi charged that such centralisation of power was "not new to Modi.”
"Gujarat has just passed a controversial anti-terror law (the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Bill) that gives draconian powers to the police. The new law puts the state government, its ministers and officials essentially beyond the purview of the legal process. Is this what the BJP government hopes to replicate in New Delhi.
"Let us remember terrorism has been effectively fought without such draconian laws. My fear is that such laws will be used to suppress the voice of the people. We are already seeing evidence of this," she said.
She also targeted the Prime Minister for his remarks against the previous governments on foreign soil.
"The government and the Prime Minister remain in full campaign mode, as if the elections were not over. What is worse, for the first time, a Prime Minister of India has decided to play domestic politics on foreign soil. Just last month Modi attacked the UPA and his distinguished predecessor on a visit to France.
"In Canada he hit a new low by referring to the UPA in despicable terms. These outrageous remarks on foreign soil belittle the dignity of the office he holds and is an embarrassment to the nation," she said.
Going hammer and tongs against Modi on the issue, she said such "petty" behaviour does not define us.
In the backdrop of some recent controversies over appointments of people with RSS leanings in some key bodies, Gandhi charged, "Government bodies are being populated by men and women whose sole qualification appears to be loyalty to the Prime Minister or to his patron organisations."
"This government deserves credit for redefining democracy. It is no longer of the people, by the people, for the people but a government of some people, by one person, for a select few. We can give the government credit for transforming our nation into a land where everyday we hear of places of worship of minorities being desecrated," she said.
The Congress President rued that the "stream of provocative statements" from members of the ruling establishment continue "unabated".
"Incendiary remarks are often uttered even by ministers against entire communities and institutions of our democracy. Some in the Sangh Parivar want to remove the voting rights of a community. Others want to erect statues of Godse, the man who murdered the Father of the Nation. Yes we can give them credit for making Indians feel unsafe in India and for poisoning the political discourse of our great country," Gandhi said in remarks laced with sarcasm.
