Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday castigated the BJP-led NDA government, accusing the present dispensation of muzzling the voices of the Opposition. “Our freedom is under assault. Today we are embracing a regressive vision,” Gandhi said while delivering her speech at the India Today Conclave 2018. Targeting the BJP government over growing intolerance, the Congress leader said, “Fear and intimidation are order of the day; alternate voices are being silenced, religious tensions are being fuelled, vigilante armies are being let loose with state patronage, society is being polarised with a view to win election.” Stating that the country is in the midst of “great upheaval”, Sonia claimed that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government is using its brute majority in the Parliament to stifle the voice of the Opposition. “If we are not allowed to speak in parliament, why not shut down parliament so we can all go home. Unlike Vajpayee, this BJP govt doesn’t respect parliament procedures,” she observed.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday castigated the BJP-led NDA government, accusing the present dispensation of muzzling the voices of the Opposition. “Our freedom is under assault. Today we are embracing a regressive vision,” Gandhi said while delivering her speech at the India Today Conclave 2018. Targeting the BJP government over growing intolerance, the Congress leader said, “Fear and intimidation are order of the day; alternate voices are being silenced, religious tensions are being fuelled, vigilante armies are being let loose with state patronage, society is being polarised with a view to win election.” Stating that the country is in the midst of “great upheaval”, Sonia claimed that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government is using its brute majority in the Parliament to stifle the voice of the Opposition. “If we are not allowed to speak in parliament, why not shut down parliament so we can all go home. Unlike Vajpayee, this BJP govt doesn’t respect parliament procedures,” she observed.