Contributing to the ongoing verbal duel between the ruling party and the opposition, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said on Saturday that citizens are being taught a new definition of patriotism and there is no space for dissent in the current regime.
"Today, we are being taught a new definition of patriotism while those not accepting diversity are being called patriots," Gandhi said at an event in Delhi, launching an attack on the ruling BJP. She added that the current government was not ready to respect dissent, and when there are attacks on people who stick to their faith, it looks the other way.
A well-planned conspiracy to crush the country's soul is under way, she said and alleged that the BJP was not ready to fulfil its duty of enforcing the rule of law.
Sonia added that Congress would develop a system to monitor their implementations if voted to power. "I have no doubts about the promises we have made. After our government is formed, a system will be in place to monitor their implementation," she said.
She also accused the current government of focussing on politics to benefit their industrialist chums instead of concentrating on creating opportunities for people.
She then went on to talk about the UPA's experiment with the National Advisory Council (NAC). "At the NAC, we brought together the power of the government and ground experience of the civil society. This helped in bringing out Right To Information, Right to Food and Right to Education, among other measures, to secure the rights of people," she said, adding that the need of the hour is an impartial government.
"India today needs a government that is nishpaksh (impartial). Secularism needs to be re-established and the constitutional framework secured," she said, and urged people to vote for a party that is responsible and cares about their dignity.
