Congress plenary session: Sonia says arrogant Modi govt ruined UPA schemes

Congress plenary session began today with Rahul Gandhi's speech. The party discussed its revival by defeating Narendra Modi-led NDA alliance

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi today launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that his pre-poll promises of combating corruption and ensuring inclusive development were "only dramebazi' and a trick to grab power.

Gandhi, in her address at the 84th Congress Plenary Session, gave a clarion call to the partymen to be ready for any kind of sacrifice to strengthen the party and to make the county free from discrimination, vendetta politics and arrogance.

She called upon them to forcefully fight against the challenges posed by the present dispensation and asked them to mount a struggle to free the country from the fear of power.

"The slogans of 'sab ka saath, sab ka vikas' and 'na khaoonga, na khaane doonga' are only and only dramebazi (drama) and a trick to grab power," she said, referring to Modi's promises of inclusive development and corruption-free governance.

She said that the Congress was fighting the tyrannical Modi government and the people have begun to realise that the promises made by the BJP in 2014 were hollow.

"Under the leadership of former PM Manmohan Singh, the economy of this country flourished. Our government formed policies which lifted millions of people from poverty. And today, the Modi government is weakening these policies," she said.

Gandhi said the present dispensation was using all means to be in power. But the Congress has and will never bow before the power of arrogance of this government which has launched vendetta against its opponents, she said.

The Congress parliamentary party chief said the party was exposing the frauds of the Modi government with proof.

1. Sachin Pilot says under Rahul, Congress will win 2019 polls

To those who challenge us, I would say... as of now we have won by-polls under leadership of Rahul Gandhi, soon you'll see us winning states and in 2019 Congress will win the elections: Sachin Pilot at Congress Plenary Session

2. Rahul Gandhi says only Congress can unite India

 This is the only symbol (Congress party symbol) that can unite the nation and take it forward: Rahul Gandhi at Congress Plenary Session in Delhi.

They (BJP) uses anger we use love but one thing that I want to say is that this country belongs to everyone and whatever Congress will do will be for the benefit for all: Rahul Gandhi.

The nation is tired and looking for a way out, only Congress can show the way ahead: Rahul Gandhi


3. With your (party members & workers) blessings and cooperation we will once again win Karnataka, your help is needed, the way BJP and RSS workers go door-to-door, the same way you also help us in Karnataka: Mallikarjun Kharge at Congress Plenary Session.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and other Congress leaders at 84th Plenary session of Indian National Congress in New Delhi: BS Photo by Sanjay K Sharma

4. Topics of discussion during plenary session

This plenary will decide the vision and direction and the way forward of the Congress for the next five years," Randeep Singh Surjewala said, adding that agriculture, employment, poverty alleviation, national security, foreign policy and economy will be discussed.

"What is the present condition, what is the future, what is Congress's vision on these issues. How the party will solve the problems of the farmers, how to generate employment, new steps for poverty alleviation, how to improve the economic condition," he said.

5. The subjects committee comprises of the members of party's steering committee, Congress legislative party leaders, state Congress chiefs, office-bearers of the parliamentary party, chiefs of frontal organisations and heads of sub-committees that have formulated the plenary resolutions.

6. India is rising against you, Rahul tells Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who spoke at the "Rising India Summit" here, saying the country "was rising against him".

"Modiji, those were some fancy power point slides. A quick word of advice: You're right about Rising India. One small issue - it's rising against you," Gandhi said in a tweet.

7. Who will Modi target next, asks Rahul

Rahul Gandhi attacked the Narendra Modi government for targeting opposition leaders including RJD leader Lalu Prasad using the CBI to "intimidate and harass them" and asked who the next target will be.

"The BJP government uses the CBI to target key opposition politicians to intimidate and harass them.

"Now, a news report reveals how the CBI was pressured to file a case against @laluprasadrjd, ignoring the advice of its own legal team. Who will Modiji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) target next?" tweeted Gandhi adding hashtag #VendettaPolitics.

8. Randeep Singh Surjewala backs Rahul

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that his party unequivocally condemns any act of political vendetta indulged by the Modi government.

"Now that the BJP has only few months left in power, it should count its days and be ready to face the people's wrath," he said, adding that "denigrating the credibility of institutions by misusing them to target political opponents is the sole agenda of the Modi government".

"Media reports suggest that the 'Directorate of Prosecution', which is the CBI's legal wing, and the Economic Offences Division of the CBI have different opinions on filing an FIR in a case against former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad. "This chasm within the CBI has surfaced when the Modi government has left no stone unturned to file series of cases against their political opponents. CBI clearly has become a 'Captive Bureau of Investigation' in the hands of the Modi government," he added.

9. Opposition parties united to pass no-confidence motion against Modi government

An overwhelming majority of opposition parties have extended tactical support to the Andhra Pradesh rivals YSR Congress and TDP, who are together pushing for a no-confidence motion against the Modi government over the non-implementation of the promised special category status for the post-bifurcation Andhra Pradesh. 

Even Congress — which has no love lost for the YSR Congress and TDP, the two parties that have reduced the Grand Old Party to a corner in its once political fortress of Andhra Pradesh was more vociferous than others in extending support to the move for a no-confidence motion.

10. Although the opposition parties are fully aware of the Modi government’s numerical strength in the House, they feel that the government will be compelled to take action. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is eyeing regional parties for a “federal front” tweeted, “I welcome the TDP’s decision to leave the NDA. The current situation warrants such action to save the country from disaster.”