Sonia explains minimum govt, max governance policy at Chintan Shivir

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, charging that it has become clear that his mantra of 'minimum government, maximum governance' means keeping the country in a permanent state of polarisation, "brutalising" minorities and "threatening" political opponents. In her opening address at the party's 'Chintan Shivir' at Udaipur in Rajasthan on Friday, she urged delegates to deliberate with an open mind and send out a clear message of strong organisation and unity. "It means using our society's age-old pluralities to divide us and subverting a carefully nurtured idea of unity and diversity. It means threatening and intimidating political opponents, maligning their reputation, jailing them on flimsy pretexts using investigative agencies," said the Congress chief.

Hitting out at the government over their “diversionary tactics”, Sonia Gandhi said, “The fires of hatred that are being ignited have taken a heavy toll on the lives of people. This is having serious social consequencesmuch more serious then we can imagine.” Sonia Gandhi said that the Congress has to “combat this growing virus of divisiveness”.

She urged party leaders to keep the organisation above personal ambitions, saying the party has given us a lot and it's time to pay back. Noting that changes in organisation are the need of the hour, she said, We need to change the way of our working. Mrs Gandhi said that the Chintan Shivir” is an opportunity to discuss both national issues and do meaningful self”- introspection. “We have to keep organisation above personal ambitions, the party has given us a lot and it is time to pay back,” Sonia Gandhi told party members. Over 400 party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will participate in discussions over the next three days in the brainstorming meet at Udaipur.