The Congress on Tuesday knocked at the door of President Pranab Mukherjee to lodge its protest against what it claimed to be instances of growing intolerance in the country. With her son Rahul Gandhi by her side, Congress president Sonia Gandhi led the march of its top leaders to Rashtrapati Bhavan and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “endorsing” the incidents of hate.
leading a delegation of over 100 party leaders from Parliament, Sonia handed over a memorandum to President Mukherjee, expressing grave concern at the “growing atmosphere of fear, intolerance and intimidation in the country being deliberately created by sections of the ruling establishment”.
“Some organisations, some people who are connected with Modi or are part of the Government are making an assault on the composite culture and basic values of India. Intolerance is being fuelled. Whatever incidents are happening in the country today are part of a well thought-out strategy being adopted deliberately to divide our society,” Sonia said asserting that the Congress will fight these forces with all its might.
The Congress president said what was happening in the country was a matter of deep concern to every Indian and the President has already made clear his views on it.
“But the Prime Minister is silent. It clearly indicates that he endorses all these incidents,” said Sonia flanked by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, leaders of the party in Parliament Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad, besides party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and AK Antony.
The march came against the backdrop of protests by artistes, writers and scientists over rising intolerance as reflected in the Dadri lynching, beef row and other such incidents. They also expressed their gratitude to the President for speaking out strongly and unequivocally against the forces of prejudice, bigotry and intolerance.
The Congress delegation told the President that a “sinister campaign” was being unleashed to create social and communal tension in the country. “It is being done with the objective of polarising society and disturbing social harmony,” the Congress said.
“We would like to humbly request the honourable President to use the political and moral authority of his office to impress upon the Prime Minister that this is unacceptable.”
Rahul attacked the Prime Minister for his “silence” and said he does not believe it is necessary for him to speak on these incidents while the President and the RBI Governor have conveyed their concerns.
“The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister believe nothing is happening in the country and they feel everything is fine. This is the heart of the problem. These people believe in intolerance. Ideologically they are not tolerant. It is not a matter of just Congress party alone. It is a problem of every single Indian ...And the PM does not believe in that,” he said.
Asked about Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s comment that protests against intolerance are manufactured, he said “yes, the RSS and BJP people are manufacturing these incidents. The Finance Minister feels there is nothing going on. He should go to the villages and see what is happening.”
He attacked Union Minister VK Singh saying: “When two Dalit children were burnt to death, he called them dogs. He should not even be in the Cabinet. A large number of people have made it clear that they are unhappy with the way this Government views this country.” Rahul however parried a question on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the wake of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Notable among those present were Captain Amarinder Singh, former Speaker Meira Kumar, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, former Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Prithviraj Chavan, PCC chiefs Ashok Tanwar, Ashok Chavan, EVKS Elangovan, Pratap Singh Bajwan and Sachin Pilot. Former Delhi Ministers AK Walia, Arvinder Singh lovely, Ramkant Goswani, former AICC Secretary Jaikishan were also present.