Secular values under threat: Sonia
The secular and democratic values of Kerala have been under systematic threat from the BJP and the RSS, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has said.
Addressing a UDF election campaign in Thrissur on Monday, she called for untied efforts to defend the plurality, diversity, and progressive culture of the State. “Minorities, Dalits, tribal people, and women in the country are being targeted. Democratically elected governments are being toppled unconstitutionally. Universities are being put on notice. Educationalists are being threatened. NGOs are being silenced. Those who are critical about government policies are being labelled as traitors,’’ she said.
The Modi government closed down the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs set up by the UPA government, at a time when people in the Gulf needed the most help, Ms. Gandhi alleged. Over the past five years, the UDF government led by Oommen Chandy had achieved great development in all sectors, despite an opposition whose agenda was to prevent development of the State, she said. “So much has been done — a new airport, metro railway, Vizhinjam project and National Highways. All these were done with a hostile Modi government at the Centre,” she said.
Today, Kerala’s growth rate is faster than the country. Kerala is the first digital State in the country. It has become the only State to achieve hundred per cent enrolment in primary education. These have been possible with the UDF in power, she said.
Paddy crisis
“Despite Modi government not increasing Minimum Support Price and reducing subsidies, the Kerala government is purchasing paddy for one of the highest prices in the country,” Ms. Gandhi said.
She alleged that the Modi government refused to put restrictions on import of oil even while coconut farmers were under crisis. The Modi government also refused to provide funds for rubber farmers, she said.
“The Modi government reduced fund for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. It also sharply reduced the allocation for the self-help projects for women’s development.’’
Under the leadership of Mr. Chandy, the UDF had laid very strong foundation for a prosperous Kerala. The UDF had successfully fulfilled most of the promises in its manifesto, she said.
She urged the voters to vote for the UDF to sustain democracy, diversity, and development. “A vote for the UDF is a vote for unity, for peace and for a progressive Kerala,” she said.
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