New Delhi, Jan 13 (UNI) Attacking the Narendra Modi Government on the Citizen Amendment Act and the national register for citizens (NRC), Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday charged the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah with trying to divert attention of people from the grim economic reality through their divisive policies and the politics of polarisation and stressed the need for the opposition to come together to thwart the designs of the Government.



Addressing a meeting of the Opposition parties on the nationwide protests against the CAA and the NRC, Mrs Gandhi accused the Government of letting loose a reign of oppression, spreading hatred and trying to divide the nation on sectarian lines.



"The government has let loose a reign of oppression, spreading hatred and trying to divide our people along sectarian lines. There is unprecedented turmoil today. The Constitution is being undermined and the instruments of governance are being misused. Students and the young have in particular been targeted. In several parts of the country, especially in Uttar Pradesh, large sections of the population are being harassed and attacked,’’ Mrs Gandhi said at the meeting, which was attended by leaders of 20 opposition parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party, CPI (M), JMM, RJD, CPI, Loktantrik Janata Dal, IUML, RSP, KCM and IUDF, NC, PDP, JD(S), RLD, Hindustani Awami Morcha, RLSP, Swabhiman Paksha, Forward Bloc and the VCK.



Slamming the government for its violent action against students in the Jamia Millia university and the Jawaharlal Nehru University protesting against the CAA and NRC, she said, "there have been nation-wide spontaneous protests by the youth supported by citizens from all walks of life. The immediate cause is the CAA and NRC but they reflect widespread frustration and pent up anger, which is now out in the open. The response of the police in UP and Delhi has been shockingly partisan and brutal. The Prime Minister and Home Minister have misled the people. They have contradicted their own statements of only weeks ago, and continue with their provocative statements while remaining insensitive to the state suppression and violence that is increasingly becoming commonplace.

"The nation has watched in horror at the BJP-orchestrated assault on JNU coming so soon after what happened in Jamia, BHU, Allahabad University and AMU and other institutions of higher learning in other parts of the country. The Modi-Shah Government stands totally exposed for its inability to govern and to provide security to the people.’’



Describing the National Population Register (NPR) being brought by the government as an attempt towards bringing a nationwide NRC, she said, "NRC seems to have back-fired in Assam. The Modi-Shah government is now focussing on the NPR exercise that is scheduled to begin in a few months. Contrary to the assertions of the Home Minister, it is clear that this is being done to lead to a nation-wide NRC.’’





Terming the "divisive politics" by the government as an attempt to divert attention of the people from the grim economic realities, Mrs Gandhi called on the Opposition parties to come together to thwart the designs of the Government.



"The real issue facing India today is the collapse of economic activity and slowing growth and development affecting all sections of society, especially the poor and disadvantaged. The Prime Minister and Home Minister have no answers and want to divert the nation’s attention from this grim reality by raising one divisive and polarising issue after another. It is for us to work together and thwart the designs of this government,’’ Mrs Gandhi said.


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