New Delhi: Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday sharply criticised the central government, describing it as “weak” and “cowardly” for failing to run Parliament sessions while its own MPs were forced to protest outside. Addressing the media at the Parliament House precinct, she also questioned the suspension of internet services at Jantar Mantar and the police action against protesting students.
Speaking to reporters, Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked: “Have you seen the government’s weakness? Have you ever seen in the entire history of our democracy that the government’s MPs are standing outside and protesting? And for how many sessions has this been going on… they simply cannot run it. Look at what is happening outside. They are weak, completely cowardly.”
Responding to a question on the internet suspension at Jantar Mantar, she said: “I mean what is this? Are we living in a democracy? Think about it, children are protesting. They are all young, think about it. They have cut all the internet. What are they doing? They are not terrorists. Their parents will be worried; their families will be worried; they can’t contact anyone. They are putting tear gas on them; they are beating them. What kind of democracy is this!”
She accused sections of the media of repeatedly asking only those questions that suited the government. “And why aren’t you people speaking up? Why aren’t you speaking up? Why are you constantly asking me only the questions which the government wants you to ask me? Are you asking them anything? Have you asked their Ministers? Have you asked—how is the Prime Minister tweeting this morning that he cares for children, when last night he tear gassed them; last night, he had them beaten up? Who is responsible?”
Priyanka Gandhi further said the Prime Minister takes credit for national achievements but must also accept responsibility for failures. “He takes credit for going to Mars. He takes credit for every achievement of this nation, which is the achievement of our youth, and the achievement of our people. He takes credit, doesn’t he? So, now, it is the time for him to take the responsibility… It is he who is getting people beaten up.”
Highlighting the issue of examination paper leaks, she stated: “Under his nose, 152 papers have leaked in 10 years. 152 papers have leaked, not one conviction—zero conviction! Zero convictions! Under whose nose? Who is responsible? If Modi Ji is responsible for us going to Mars… then Modi Ji is responsible for what is happening today. Modi Ji is responsible for the fact that our youth feels there is no future, and Modi Ji is responsible if thousands of children are demonstrating and he has cut off the internet, and he is tear gassing them, and he is having them lathi-charged. If something happens to even one of them, it is his responsibility.”
In response to another question, she declared she would henceforth answer only relevant queries. “From now on I will answer only those questions that are relevant. You are trapped in this government’s net. You always ask only what this government wants you to ask. All right? Every time… Ask them, their ministers are coming and going. The Prime Minister has not even come to the House. Such a big movement is going on. The youth of the entire country is outside, the Prime Minister has not come to the House. And you are asking me why the House is not functioning?”
She urged journalists to question the government directly: “Ask me what is happening. What is being done for the students? What is happening to the students’ demands? Ask these questions. And ask these ministers who are coming and going. Have you asked when they will resign? I want to know, have you asked Dharmendra Ji when he will resign?… Have you asked Amit Shah Ji why lathis were used? Have you asked Amit Shah Ji why such small children are in hospital? That those protesting outside cannot even phone their parents because you have cut the internet, NSA has been imposed. For what? Are these terrorists? Have you asked?”