PM talks of peace on foreign soil, silent in country, says Sonia

Guwahati: Launching a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said the PM talks of peace and development when he visits abroad, but remains silent in the country when his ministers make hate speeches.
Commenting on the PM's foreign trips, Sonia said, "Modi embraces everyone and talks big about the country when he is abroad. But, once he returns to the country, he adopts 'maun vrat' when his ministers openly target the minorities."
Addressing election rallies at Sarukhetri in Barpeta and Jagi Road for the second phase polls, she said BJP leaders and ministers were spreading communal hatred in the country. She said the saffron party was controlled from Nagpur.
Though Assam and the northeast was entering a difficult phase, Sonia said the state can show the way to the country on the ongoing intolerance debate. "Assam is the land of Sankardeva and Ajan Fakir. Both these great men preached peace and harmony in society," she said. Sonia said BJP is spreading communalism in the state and trying to divide people, who have been living together for generations in peace and harmony. "Congress works for all sections of society and spreads unity among the people, while only BJP tries to divide people," she said.
Sonia also accused the Modi government of toppling elected governments in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. "BJP does not believe in the Constitution or democracy. It is flouting all constitutional norms in destabilizing democratically elected Congress governments," she charged.
The AICC chief said that though the present government at the Centre has not done anything significant for small traders, it is allowing big businessmen to run away abroad.
She praised chief minister Tarun Gogoi for taking care of the poorer sections of society by implementing various schemes. She said Congress's development policies include all religions, castes and creeds and all sections of people.
Targeting AGP, BJP's ally in this election, Sonia said 15 years ago, there was violence, insecurity and instability in the state.