Launching a fresh attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over the three farm laws, handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic slowdown, and alleged atrocities against Dalits in the country, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said Indian democracy is passing through its “most difficult phase”.

Gandhi, while slamming the government over the “anti-agriculture black laws”,  said a “conspiracy” has been hatched to defeat the gains of the ‘green revolution’. 

The Congress president alleged that India is being ruled by a government that is “systematically” handing over the rights of citizens to a handful of crony capitalists.

“A conspiracy has been hatched to defeat the gains of the ‘green revolution’. Lives and livelihoods of crores of farm labourers, leasehold farmers, small and marginal farmers, toiling labourers and small shopkeepers are under attack. It is our solemn duty to join hands to defeat this sinister conspiracy,” Gandhi said.

Addressing a meeting of All Indian Congress Committee general secretaries state-in charges which she presided over, Gandhi hit out the BJP-led government saying that by bringing “three anti-agriculture black laws”, the Centre has attacked the very foundation of India. 

Also Read | New farm laws are an attack on soul of every farmer: Rahul Gandhi

The three farm bills — the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 — were passed by Parliament recently. Subsequently, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bills.

Many opposition parties, including Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, are protesting the farm laws since they have been given assent. 

Also Read | Modi government ‘betrayed’ farmers: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre on farm laws

She said there is a “designed attack” on the Constitution and democratic traditions. 

The country was pushed into the “abyss” of coronavirus pandemic by “sheer ineptitude” and “mismanagement” of the Modi government, Gandhi alleged in her opening remarks at the meeting.

“The stark truth is that a prime minister who promised to defeat corona within 21 days has abdicated his and his government’s responsibility towards the citizens,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi claimed that the government has simultaneously “demolished” the economy, built painstakingly by the hard work of fellow Indians and the vision of successive Congress governments.

Alleging that atrocities against Dalits have reached a “new zenith”, she said that instead of honouring the law and granting adequate protection to India’s daughters, BJP governments are siding with criminals.

“The voice of oppressed families is being suppressed by the agencies of the state. Is this the new ‘Raj Dharma’?” Gandhi asked.