Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, as well as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh informed the Modi government that its "Congress-free India" slogan was destined for failure.
Highlights
- Congress leaders are protesting against President's Rule in 2 states.
- BJP sit-in at Gandhi statue in Parliament over AgustaWestland scam.
- Rahul Gandhi to speak in Agusta debate in Lok Sabha today.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi hit out at the Modi Government at a big rally in Delhi on Friday morning, also making a direct attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP.
Accusing them of attempting to crush democracy, Mrs Gandhi said, "I want to tell Nagpur, to those whose instructions run the Narendra Modi government - we will never let you fulfill your want. I want to tell them that no matter what you accuse us of, however much you initimidate us, we will not bow down," adding, 'Life has taught me about struggles." The RSS is headquartered in Maharashtra's Nagpur.
Her son and deputy Rahul Gandhi said, "Only two persons are talked about in this country, (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat and Narendra Modi. Those who speak up against them are victimised."
Both leaders and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh informed the Modi government that its "Congress-free India" slogan was destined for failure.
The Congress is protesting today against the imposition of President's Rule in two states that it governed - Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The protest comes as the BJP accuses the Gandhis and other Congress leaders of corruption in the 3,600 crore Agusta Westland deal for 12 helicopters. An Italian court has found that bribes were paid in India to clinch the deal in 2010, when the Congress was in power.
The Congress has rejected the allegations accusing PM Modi of "masterminding a conspiracy to implicate" the party leadership. Later today, Rahul Gandhi will participate in a discussion on the AgustaWestland scam in the Lok Sabha.
After their speeches at Jantar Mantar, the Gandhis are leading a "save democracy march" to Parliament, where, at the Gandhi statue, lawmakers of the BJP, are sitting on a protest of their own.
"Let Sonia Gandhi and Rahul be where ever they want, but we want to pray before Mahatama Gandhi and ask where the crores of money went in the Agusta chopper scam," said BJP lawmaker Kirit Somaiyya who has targeted Rahul Gandhi in the chopper scam.
While the Congress rally was announced days ago, the BJP sit-in at the Gandhi statue was put together yesterday to ensure a parallel show of strength.