Sonia Gandhi accuses govt of blocking parliamentary debate

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has slammed the government for "stubbornly" refusing a discussion on the India-China border issue in Parliament, saying silence on matters of serious concern has become its defining feature. She also accused the Centre of making a calculated attempt to "delegitimise" the judiciary, terming it as a "troubling new development". Launching a scathing attack on the Modi government during her address to party MPs in the central hall of Parliament on Wednesday, she said refusing a parliamentary debate on such a serious issue as Chinese "incursions" shows "disrespect for our democracy and reflects poorly on the government's intentions". She said a frank discussion strengthens the nation's response and it is the duty of the government of the day to inform the public and explain its policies and actions with respect to the security and border situation.

“A troubling new development is the calculated attempt underway to delegitimise the judiciary. Ministers –- and even a high constitutional authority – have been enlisted to make speeches attacking the judiciary on various grounds. It is quite clear that this is not an effort to provide reasonable suggestions for improvement. Rather, it is an effort to reduce the standing of the judiciary in the eyes of the public,” Gandhi told her party MPs.She said India continues to face significant internal and external challenges – inflation, unemployment, social polarisation, weakening of democratic institutions, and repeated border incursions. A frank discussion, Gandhi pointed out, strengthens the nation’s response. She said it was the duty of the government of the day to inform the public and explain its policies and actions.