Tag: sonia

  • BJP distorting history: Sonia

    BJP distorting history: Sonia

    The veteran leader accused the ruling establishment of continuously targeting the opposition, its leaders and workers, reports Asian Lite News

    Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the BJP of playing divisive politics and misusing probe agencies to target the opposition parties.

    She was speaking at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting.

    “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.”

    She said history — not just ancient but also contemporary — is being mischievously distorted and facts are maliciously invented to add fuel to the agenda. It is for everyone to stand up and confront these forces of “hate and prejudice”.

    “We will not allow them to damage the bonds of amity and harmony that have sustained and enriched our diverse society for centuries.”she added.

    The veteran leader accused the ruling establishment of continuously targeting the opposition, its leaders and workers. The full might of the state machinery is unleashed against them.

    “Maximum governance to those in power clearly means spreading maximum fear and intimidation. Such blatant threats and tactics will neither frighten or silence us nor cow us down.” She said.

    Sonia alleged that the MSMEs are in the most precarious condition. There is no sign whatsoever that the commitments made to the farmers are going to be fulfilled in any significant manner. Prices of cooking gas and oil, petrol, diesel, fertilisers and other essential commodities have risen to an unbearable limit — and continue to rise.

    “A few days back, our party launched a nationwide Mehngai-mukt Bharat campaign in which many of you took part. This must be sustained.”

    She praised the Congress-led UPA government’s National Food Security Act and MGNREGA and alleged that though the minister concerned has denied it, inordinately delayed wage payments however, continues to be a serious issue.

    “In spite of repeated attempts, we have been unable to get the Government to agree to a discussion on the situation on our borders, a discussion that could only have deepened the sense of collective resolve. The value of non-alignment as a foundational principle of the nation’s foreign policy that was criticised so much has now, I am glad to note, been rediscovered even though it may not be acknowledged as such.” she added.

    Pic credits Twitter@Jaishankar

    She expressed concern on the future of the thousands of students who have been evacuated from Ukraine. She charged the government with diluting the labour laws at a time of growing unemployment and livelihood insecurity. Interest rates on employee provident fund accumulations have been reduced considerably.

    “Public sector enterprises, the one important avenue for employment of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are being sold off under the fancy name “asset monetisation”. This will be another disaster as demonestisation turned out to be,” she said.

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  • Social media misused to hack democracy, says Sonia  

    Social media misused to hack democracy, says Sonia  

    This is beyond parties and politics. We need to protect our democracy and social harmony regardless of who’s in power,” she said…reports Asian Lite News

    Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday raised the issue of misuse of social media platforms by political proxies in the Lok Sabha.

    Taking up the issue during Zero Hour, she urged the government to put an end to systematic influence and interference of Facebook and other social media giants in electoral politics of the world’s largest democracy.

    “Global companies like Facebook and Twitter are increasingly being used to shape political narratives by leaders, parties and their proxies.”

    “This is beyond parties and politics. We need to protect our democracy and social harmony regardless of who’s in power,” she said.

    She alleged that young and old minds are being filled with hate through emotionally charged disinformation, and proxy advertising companies like Facebook are aware of it and are profiting from it.

    Reports in various media outlets show a growing nexus between big corporates, social media giants and ruling establishment, the Congress leader stated.

    The Congress has raised the issue in the past with Facebook over use of spreading disinformation in the country, she added.

    ALSO READ-Sonia Gandhi slams BJP for rewriting history