Congress: BJP wants to suppress all voices

Confrontation between the government and the Opposition escalates after filing of sedition charges against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and six others in connection with the JNU row, on the eve of the Budget. The Congress reacted sharply to the development, accusing the BJP and its allies of wanting to “suppress every voice that speaks against their repressive anti-dalit and poor policies”.

“From Rohith Vemula to Rahul Gandhi, everyone who raises an opinion against suppression of opinion by Modi government is branded as anti-national,” chief spokesperson of the Congress Randeep Surjewala said.

“Sadly, the BJP and its allies want to suppress every voice that speaks against their repressive anti-dalit and poor policies. From Rohith Vemula to Rahul Gandhi, everyone who raises an opinion against suppression of opinion by the Modi government is branded as anti-national. The Congress as also India’s youth won’t be deterred to raise their voices for the underprivileged and students by such cowardly attempts of the Modi government who are drunk with arrogance of power.”

“Rahulji and the Congress will determinedly remain torch-bearers against the oppression and suppression being vindictively pursued by the BJP,” he said.

While the Opposition has decided to bring a privilege motion against HRD minister Smriti Irani on Rohith Vemula issue, others view that the sedition strategy could unite the Opposition inside and outside Parliament.