Farmers Movement Archive

Security situation alarming, but govt in deep slumber: Sonia at CWC meet

NEW DELHI: Expressing alarm over “the situation in the country”, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday said there has been rapid deterioration in internal and external security scenarios, led by continuing occupation of Indian territory by Chinese troops, 18 months after the Galwan clashes in which India lost 20 soldiers. It said China has not vacated the territory nor has India recovered old positions. While Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said the Centre was “becho becho becho (sell sell sell)” of all assets built over 70 years to hide its failures, the party slammed the BJP government for the country’s economic downslide and spiralling inflation. It also said that India is no longer regarded as a democracy but is viewed as an “electoral autocracy”. Accusing the BJP regime of authoritarianism, the party said the judiciary has been debilitated by not filling the vacancies while watchdogs have been rendered toothless, media forced into submission with threats, and common people and political rivals targeted through surveillance. Congress called on all political parties to oppose the BJP regime in the interest of democracy. In the resolutions passed, Congress said aggressive posture of China and unabated infiltrations from Pakistan have resulted in dramatic deterioration in security of J&K. It said after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the situation is “graver” but government seems to be “oblivious or in deep slumber”. Calling the J&K administration “incompetent”, the party said statehood was the way forward. It also pointed to security challenges in the North East and inter-state flareups in the region. Congress said the seizure of 3,000 kgs of heroin at Gujarat’s Adani port has exposed that drug trafficking has assumed monstrous proportions under the Narendra Modi regime. While pointing to sliding economy and growing joblessness, Congress said the farmers’ agitation is in its 10th month but the “arrogant” Centre has refused to engage with them while rogue BJP elements were inflicting violence on them as in the massacre in Lakhimpur Kheri. “The refusal of the PM to condemn the brutal murder of the farmers and to sack the MoS have shocked the conscience of the country,” it said. However, the party steered clear of any mention of the lynching at Singhu border near Delhi this week. Congress also slammed the recent home ministry amendments to empower the Border Security Force in states, calling it an atta-ck on federalism.

The Times of India

2021-10-17

India