THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said many states witnessed spurts in communal violence after the Narendra Modi-led government assumed power at the Centre.
She also alleged that it was a “deliberate attempt” to foster a communal divide in the country.
“In 11 weeks, since the BJP Government came to power, incidents of communal violence are on the rise. It is a matter of great concern and worry for us,” she said in her first-ever public speech outside New Delhi, after the Lok Sabha poll debacle suffered by the Congress.
Exhorting her party to set a political goal and stage a come back, she asked Congress workers not to allow anyone to divide the people.
Addressing a special meeting of Congress leaders here, Sonia Gandhi pointed out that no incidents of communal tension or violence was reported when the UPA I and II governments were in power.
“Now, nearly 600 violent incidents have been reported in UP and perhaps a similar number in Maharashtra. Why is this occurring suddenly after the BJP come to power,” she asked.
Sonia also called upon party workers to remain committed towards promoting a secular and plural society in the country. She also said that the Congress is concerned about atrocities against women, children and men in Gaza.
“We’ve raised our voice. We were not able to push it in the Lok Sabha. But after much effort, the issue was taken up in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP government’s muted response to the ongoing sufferings of people in Gaza does it no credit,” she said calling it a betrayal.
Sonia said Congress and India for long had shared a tradition of solidarity with the cause of Palestine. Expressing the hope that the guns that remain silent now would turn into lasting peace, she said the Congress would like to see the two states living side by side in peace and harmony.