Attempts by RSS-BJP to curtail freedom will be resisted, warns Congress

India today is faced with a systematic assault on the foundational principles of the Constitution and the values of the Indian Republic by outfits and organisations affiliated to the ruling RSS-BJP combine, says the political resolution adopted at the Congress plenary session on Saturday.

Saying that forces of communalism and violence have no place in a civilised society, the political resolution hit out at the RSS and BJP for their omissions and commissions.

Here are some of the points made vis-à-vis the two outfits:

The BJP Government has brazenly misused the constitutional office of Governors and resorted to unethical means to destabilise elected governments, hijack popular mandates and foisting Governments by manufacturing majority.

BJP has a history of double standards and double speak on corruption. The Government has refused to take action on serious allegations of corruption against BJP chief ministers and ministers. It has shielded the corrupt and prevented the investigating and enforcement agencies from acting as is professionally required even when there is prima-facie evidence. On the contrary, clean chits are sought to be manipulated.

There is a nexus between the BJP and those, who have amassed wealth through corruption and generation of black money. This is evident from the BJP’s access to unprecedented resources and money, which is brazenly on display in every election and rallies of the party.

There is an apprehension in people’s minds over the safety of their money in bank deposits. Congress demands swift extradition of the absconders to India. It is important that accountability is fixed at all levels.

The RSS-BJP affiliates have created an environment of distrust, fear and intimidation. Their actions threaten to tear apart the fabric of social unity and harmony. The Prime Minister and the BJP Government are intolerant of any criticism and remain in apparent denial.

The RSS and BJP claim to be custodians of nationalism and patriotism. It is ironical since they are ideological descendants of the non participants of the freedom struggle

The toxic mix of religion and politics poses a challenge to our pluralistic society and inclusive democracy. RSS, which claims to be a social and cultural organisation, masquerades as sole representative of Hindus.

Congress deplores the Government for undermining the established norms of governance and subversion of educational, cultural and historical institutions, facilitating their capture by BJP’s ideological affiliates.

RSS infiltration of every institution, administration and the universities poses a threat to pluralism and Indian democracy. The centralisation of authority, arbitrary and partisan decision making, has cast a dark shadow on Parliamentary democracy.

Congress condemns the BJP Governments for brazen abuse of power and misuse of central government agencies for targeted political vendetta to harass, humiliate and persecute its political opponents.

The Congress party warns the BJP and its Government, that its undemocratic methods and acts to curtail liberty, freedom of expression and violation of fundamental rights of the citizens as enshrined in the Constitution will be resisted.