New Delhi: AICC president Sonia Gandhi claimed that Indian Democracy is passing through its most difficult phase. She launched a scathing attack on the Government on Sunday over the three farm laws, the handling of the Covid- 19 and economic slowdown.

Sonia Gandhi in her address at a meeting of AICC General Secretaries and State Incharges, she alleged “conspiracy” has been hatched to defeat the gains of the ‘green revolution’ slamming the government over the three “anti-agriculture black laws”. She also alleged that the country was being ruled by a government which was “systematically” handing over the rights of citizens to a handful of crony capitalists. This was the first meeting of general secretaries and state in-charges Sonia Gandhi chaired after a major organisational reshuffle last month.

She hitting out at the government over the recently passed farm laws, she said the BJP-led dispensation has attacked the very foundation of India’s resilient agrarian economy by bringing in “three anti-agriculture black laws”. Lives and livelihoods of crores of farm labourers, leasehold farmers, small and marginal farmers, toiling labourers and small shopkeepers are under attack, she said. It is our solemn duty to join hands to defeat this sinister conspiracy,” she asserted.

The three farm bills — the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 — were passed by Parliament recently. Subsequently, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bills.

The Congress, many other opposition parties and several farmers organizations have been protesting against these legislations, claiming that these will harm the interests of farmers and benefit corporates, a claim denied by the government. The country was pushed into the “abyss” of Covid- 19 pandemic by “sheer ineptitude” and “mismanagement” of the Modi government, she alleged in her opening remarks at the meeting. “All this happened as we witnessed the biggest unplanned and cruel migration of crores of migrant labourers as the government remained a mute spectator to their miseries”.

Sonia Gandhi claimed that the government has simultaneously “demolished” the economy, built painstakingly by the hard work of fellow Indians and the vision of successive Congress governments. She also accused the government of failing to honour even its Constitutional responsibilities, saying the share of GST compensation is being denied to states.

Alleging that atrocities against Dalits have reached a “new zenith”, she said that instead of honouring the law and granting adequate protection to India’s daughters, BJP governments are siding with criminals. She exhorted the general secretaries and state in-charges to take on these challenges and stand with the people, saying this is what defines the Congress organisation.

“I am confident that all of you would toil hard and stand up to the forces attacking India and its people. Let us join hands to defeat the anti-democracy and autocratic designs of the ruling BJP,” she said.

“Persistent and determined struggle for the cause of people is the heart and soul of Indian National Congress. Even today, dedicated service of fellow citizens and determined fight against the injustice, inequity and discrimination in all spheres is the guiding light for every Congress men and women,” Gandhi said.