New Delhi, 07 November (H.S.): Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, asserting that the Congress would never return to power at the Centre and advising her to abandon any such political expectations.

Speaking to the media at his residence in New Delhi, Giriraj Singh strongly criticised Sonia Gandhi over her recent remarks questioning the state of India's democratic institutions and the functioning of the Central government. His response came following the publication of an article by the Congress leader in which she alleged that the country's democratic framework, constitutional institutions and social fabric had suffered considerable damage over the past 12 years.

Giriraj Singh alleged that Sonia Gandhi had spent years attempting to establish her son, Rahul Gandhi, in Indian politics but had failed to achieve the desired political outcome. He suggested that she should give up her political ambitions, maintaining that expecting the Congress to return to power was futile.

The Union Minister also raised questions about Sonia Gandhi's citizenship and referred to allegations concerning the citizenship status of both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Taking aim at the Congress over its criticism of democratic institutions, Giriraj Singh said the party was not in a position to lecture others on democracy, given its own political record. He pointed to the Emergency imposed during the Congress government's tenure under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, alleging that democratic freedoms had been curtailed and citizens' voices suppressed during that period.

He argued that it was contradictory for the Congress to raise concerns about democratic rights today when its own government had imposed restrictions on fundamental freedoms during the Emergency.

Commenting on the Congress's electoral performance, Giriraj Singh claimed that the party had remained out of power in several states for decades and asserted that its prospects of making a political comeback remained bleak. He reiterated that there was little reason to expect the party to regain power at the national level.

Giriraj Singh also accused Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of attempting to create an atmosphere resembling civil unrest in the country. He asserted that their alleged intentions would not succeed and maintained that the Congress leadership would be unable to achieve its political objectives.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar