Sinister campaign to create disharmony, says Sonia

“A sinister campaign is being unleashed to create social and communal tension. It is being done with the objective of polarising society and disturbing social harmony,” the Congress delegation told Mukherjee. 

“Whatever incidents are happening in the country today, are a part of a well thought-out strategy being adopted deliberately to divide our society,” Sonia told reporters quoting from the memorandum. She said what was “happening in the country was a matter of deep concern to every Indian and the President has already made clear his views on them.”

“But the Prime Minister is silent. It clearly indicates that he endorses all these incidents,” Sonia said. 

She was flanked by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the party in Parliament Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad. Rahul also attacked the PM for his “silence” and said he does not believe it is necessary for him to speak on these incidents while the President and the RBI Governor have conveyed their concerns.

“The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister believe nothing is happening in the country and they feel everything is fine. This is the heart of the problem. These people believe in intolerance. Ideologically they are not tolerant.” Just before the Congress protest kick-started, Sikh groups demonstrated outside Parliament, demanding justice for the 1984 Sikh riots, also insisting that Rajiv Gandhi’s Bharat Ratna should be revoked.

Meanwhile Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, was attacked by the BJP over his alleged links with a company involved in the illegal purchase of land in Rajasthan’s Bikaner. “Skeletons in the cupboard of the Gandhi family are slowly coming out. Vadra sold land in Bikaner to a company that existed only on paper,” said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. 

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday searched the company’s premises in south Delhi but has not named Vadra or his company in any complaint. Patra linked the Congress’ protest march to the President’s House against “intolerance” to the ED’s raid. “This Congress march is only when you know that the investigations have come to your doorstep and because you know that you stand for corruption, that’s why this intolerance,” said Patra.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley rejected Congress’ pitch on the issue, saying opponents must fight political battles politically, and wondered “where is the intolerance”.  

He said, “There is an atmosphere of harmony. This country has never been intolerant and will never be intolerant.” He added, “Where is the intolerance? We are the most vibrant democracy. The atmosphere will not change only by talking. If some incident happens like the one in Karnataka, which is Congress-ruled, you cannot link it to the central government. That is not fair. This is a crime and action should be taken against whoever commits crime. That is why people in the country have strongly opposed it.”