BJP, RSS trying to dismantle Congress legacy: Sonia

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government of pursuing communal and divisive politics, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the ruling establishment's policies had not benefitted the poor.

Speaking at the 98th birth anniversary celebrations of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, Sonia said that BJP and RSS were trying to 'dismantle' the legacy of Congress and vowed to defeat them.

"Today, when we see the ruling establishment pursuing communal and divisive politics. When we see the ruling establishment following policies that favour few and powerful at the expense of the weak. We see peace being violated blatantly to obtain votes. Indira ji's values acquire even greater importance," she said.

The Congress president said that Indira Gandhi left an indelible imprint on the society, adding that she would be remembered for her commitment towards nation and people.

"Indira Gandhi ji was a mother to millions of people in our country. She is a mother even today. Many farmers of our country still remember her as 'Maa'," she said.

She also said that national unity and secularism were pillars of the former prime minister's belief.

She also praised the Youth Congress for naming the Indira Gandhi's Birth Anniversary celebrations event as 'Maa Tujhe Salaam'.

The Youth Congress today has organised series of functions to highlight the contribution of Indira Gandhi towards nation building.

Indira Gandhi fell to assassins' bullets on 31st October, 1984 at her 1, Safdarjung Road residence in New Delhi.

She was killed by her Sikh bodyguards more than four months after Operation Blue Star, which was launched to evict the militants who had occupied the Golden Temple in Amritsar.