New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) The top brass of the Congress, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, former party president Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, on Saturday launched a scathing attack against the NDA Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a number of issues, including the economy, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and women's safety.
Addressing the massive "Bharat Bachao" rally at Ramlila maidan, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that time has come to pick sides to save the Constitution.
"A time comes in the life of everyone when you have to choose one among two sides to make a decision. Today the time has come. Suffering injustice is biggest crime, it's time to rise to save democracy and Constitution. We are ready to sacrifice anything to protect Constitution. I am waiting for the day when Congress really does this. Leaders of freedom movement spent several months in jail. You can’t protect Constitution just sitting in ivory towers," the Congress president said.
"Raise your voice and tell Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah that we will do anything to save our democracy," Ms Gandhi said.
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She attacked the Government on the crisis in the farming sector, the problem of unemployment, the downturn in the economy and the Citizenship Act.
"When I look at farmers' condition, I feel pain. They are not getting seeds, fertilisers and do not get the right price for their produce. Small businessmen who had taken loans for business are destroyed by the policies of the Modi government. There are news of them committing suicide as they are unable to pay their loans," she said.
Taking on Mr Modi and Mr Shah, the Congress president charged that the duo were not bothered about the Constitution and they only wanted to incite people to fight and conceal real issues.
"Mr Modi and Mr Shah don't care that the Citizenship Amendment Act is tearing the soul of the country for which our leaders, including Baba Saheb Amedkar, fought so hard," she said and added that "we are always ready to fight for the rights of the people. We will protect our country and the Constitution till our last breath".
Stating that the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act was 'unconstitutional' and an 'assault on India's ethos', Ms Gandhi said the 'time has come' and 'we have to take tough decisions to save the country'.
Referring to the BJP government's slogan 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, the Congress president said that today the whole country is asking where is 'Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas'? "Where is employment today? Where is the black money? Who has it? Should there not be a probe into why black money could not be brought back as promised," she added.
Referring to the state of economy, Ms Gandhi also alleged that the NDA government had mismanaged the economy and added, "your money is not even safe in banks".
Speaking at the rally, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of single-handedly destroying the country's economy and alleged that the PM would do anything to stay in power.
Speaking on the controversy over his 'Rape in India' remark, Rahul said he would not apologise for what is right.
"Yesterday, in Parliament, I was asked to apologise for speaking the truth. My name is not Rahul Savarkar. My name is Rahul Gandhi. I will never apologise for what is right," he said at the mega Congress rally.
"It is Narendra Modi and his assistant Amit Shah who should be apologising to the country for destroying its economy," Mr Gandhi said.
Alleging that Mr Modi could do anything to stay in power, the Congress leader charged him with burning the North East by getting the Citizenship Amendment Bill passed in Parliament.
"PM Modi has burnt the Northeast. He will do anything for power. There just should be enough marketing, he should be on TV all day," Mr Gandhi said.
Attacking the PM on demonetisation, he said, 'The country has never recovered from it. Narendra Modi ji came and banned 500 and 1000 rupee notes. He fooled you all by saying that this was done to remove black money. But what happened? Till today the economy has not been able to recover from it'.
"There was a time when this country was growing at 9 per cent, people spoke of the success story of China and India. They called us 'Chindia'. But look at us today. Today, GDP growth is at 4 per cent - that is after they (BJP) changed the way to measure GDP. If GDP is measured following the previous method, it will be just 2.5 per cent,' Mr Gandhi said.
Accusing Mr Modi of benefiting a few corporate friends, Mr Gandhi said, 'In the last five years, PM Modi gave Adani 50 contracts. Handed him the airports.'
He also charged the media with having forgotten their responsibility and called on them for stand up for what is right without any fear.
'During the UPA rule, you attacked our government. But today you have forgotten your responsibility. You should stand up for what is right. My message to you is ‘Daro mat’(Do not fear),' he said.
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