Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Vice President Rahul Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh on Friday were briefly detained by police on a day of political protests in the national capital.
Thousands of Congress protesters, alongside high profile leaders of the party, attempted to march towards Parliament House from Jantar Mantar as part of the Congress’s March for Democracy.
Meanwhile, a group of BJP MPs assembled at the Gandhi statue inside Parliament House protesting against the alleged corrupt practices by the Congress party, according to media reports.
Amid escalating confrontations in Parliament, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the government at the rally organised at Jantar Mantar.
Other prominent leaders who spoke at the rally were former PM Manmohan Singh, and Leaders of Opposition of both houses — Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad.
A combative Sonia Gandhi on Friday hit out at the Modi government, saying it should "not try to frighten" the Congress. Addressing the crowd of Congress supporters in the presence of other high profile Congress leaders, she attacked the BJP on several fronts.
Here are some highlights from her speech:
“Do not make the mistake of thinking that the Congress party is weak. We will not allow democratic institutions to be weakened or destroyed.”
“Do not try to frighten or defame us. Life has taught me to fight”
“We had taken steps for the betterment of farmers, workers, women and youth. But this government has destroyed it. Everybody is feeling harassed and sad today. Farmers are committing suicide. They have assumed power by showing false dreams."
“Congress will continue to fight inside and outside Parliament against injustice.”
“We have to reach out to the people and unmask Modi government in a democratic way. We will not allow the democratic set up to be destroyed.”
“We are the people who have given blood and laid down our lives to protect the basic principles of humanity.”
(With inputs from PTI)