Close X
Friday, November 22, 2024
ADVT 
India

Sonia Gandhi-Led Congress To Stage March Against 'Intolerance'

Darpan News Desk IANS, 02 Nov, 2015 10:16 AM
    Congress president Sonia Gandhi will lead her party's protest march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday against "rising intolerance" during the BJP-led government's tenure.
     
    The party on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his barbs at the Congress over anti-Sikh riots in 1984.
     
    Congress leaders said the march on Tuesday would include party vice president Rahul Gandhi, members of the Congress Working committee, party office-bearers and party MPs. 
     
    The march will start from Parliament House and party leaders are expected to give a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee to convey their concern on "rising intolerance".
     
    Te price rise issue may also figure during the protest march, a party leader said.
     
    Sonia Gandhi met the president on Monday evening but party sources termed it as "personal" meeting.
     
    The meeting came on a day Modi targeted Sonia Gandhi, saying Congress leaders had no right to talk about tolerance when they were involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
     
    "Madam Soniaji, do you remember 1984? What happened in Delhi? Sikhs were killed. Serious charges were made against the Congress. Ironically, now the Congress talks of tolerance," Modi said at an election rally in Purnea in Bihar. 
     
    He said after two Sikh bodyguards assassinated then prime minister Indira Gandhi, innocent Sikhs "were killed in broad daylight... And the Congress is giving lectures on tolerance".
     
    Congress leader Anand Sharma reacted sharply to Modi's remarks, saying his comments were "politically motivated" and "a mischievous attempt to reopen the wounds of 31 years".
     
    He said riots followed assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi were "tragic" and "a sad chapter", adding that successive governments have explored every possibility to provide a healing touch.
     
    "Fortunately in this country we were able to restore the social unity and the faith of all the people which was reflected both in our national elections as well as the formation of elected governments - whether of the Congress Party or of the BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal - in Punjab," he said.
     
    Sharma said Modi made the latest remarks to "divert attention from the rising concerns and fears in the country over orchestrated campaigns to create atmosphere of fear and intimidation".
     
    "Prime minister has chosen even now not to respond to the concerns expressed by eminent Indians who have made rich and notable contributions - scientists, authors, film producers, poets and others," he said.
     
    Sharma said Modi needs to be reminded that he is the prime minister of India. 
     
    "He should not even think and act as a BJP leader or as a RSS pracharak (preacher) but fulfil and honour his constitutional duties and his moral duty as India's prime minister," he said.
     
    Referring to Modi invoking name of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the Bihar polls, Anand Sharma asked if the prime minister had forgotten advice given to him to follow "raj dharma' after the Gujarat riots.
     
    He said former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had immediately went out on the streets of Delhi to diffuse communal sentiments and calm people after reaching the capital from West Bengal in the wake of assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi.
     
    He alleged Modi did not "utter a single word for three days" after the Gujarat riots of 2002 and "did not take effective measures to control the situation".

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Indian President Pranab Mukherjee Calls For Tolerance As Intolerance Peaks

    In a repetition of what the Shiv Sena did to noted journalist Sudheendra Kulkarni in Mumbai, members of the little known Hindu Sena smeared ink on independent Kashmir legislator Engineer Rashid's face here.

    Indian President Pranab Mukherjee Calls For Tolerance As Intolerance Peaks

    Congress Lawmaker Ramanjit Singh Sikki Resigns Over Punjab's 'Deteriorating' Situation

    Congress Lawmaker Ramanjit Singh Sikki Resigns Over Punjab's 'Deteriorating' Situation
    Ramanjit Singh Sikki, MLA from Khadur Sahib assembly segment in Tarn Taran district, sent his resignation to the assembly speaker, party sources said.

    Congress Lawmaker Ramanjit Singh Sikki Resigns Over Punjab's 'Deteriorating' Situation

    Three Injured In Mini-stampede To See 'World's Largest Durga Idol' In Kolkota

    Three Injured In Mini-stampede To See 'World's Largest Durga Idol' In Kolkota
    The Deshapriya park marquee, which had drawn over one lakh visitors on Saturday, attracted an equally huge crowd on Sunday, stalling traffic movement in south Kolkata.

    Three Injured In Mini-stampede To See 'World's Largest Durga Idol' In Kolkota

    When Pakistan’s ISI Snooped On Ghazal Maestro Jagjit Singh

    When Pakistan’s ISI Snooped On Ghazal Maestro Jagjit Singh
    Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh drew huge crowds in Pakistan during his maiden trip to the country in 1979 even as he remained under surveillance by a Pakistani intelligence official

    When Pakistan’s ISI Snooped On Ghazal Maestro Jagjit Singh

    Urdu Poet Munawar Rana Returns Sahitya Akademi Award, Vows Never To Accept Any Govt Award

    Urdu Poet Munawar Rana Returns Sahitya Akademi Award, Vows Never To Accept Any Govt Award
    In a dramatic twist, popular Urdu poet Munawwar Rana on Sunday took to television to hand over his Sahitya Akademi award along with a Rs 1 lakh cash prize and vowed never to accept any government award in future.

    Urdu Poet Munawar Rana Returns Sahitya Akademi Award, Vows Never To Accept Any Govt Award

    I Am Not Sheila Dikshit, Will Not Let You Sleep Peacefully: Arvind Kejriwal To Modi On Delhi Rapes

    I Am Not Sheila Dikshit, Will Not Let You Sleep Peacefully: Arvind Kejriwal To Modi On Delhi Rapes
    Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday demanded control over Delhi Police and said he won't let Prime Minister Narendra Modi "sleep peacefully" over rising crime in the capital.

    I Am Not Sheila Dikshit, Will Not Let You Sleep Peacefully: Arvind Kejriwal To Modi On Delhi Rapes