Former Congress president and Chairperson of the UPA, Sonia Gandhi has reportedly in hard-hitting criticism of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said “bluff, bluster and intimidation” have been its governance philosophy, while asserting that her party will confront political adversaries with all its vigour.

Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party’s general body meeting, Sonia Gandhi also hailed party president Rahul Gandhi, saying he has brought fresh energy into the party organisation and has put together a team which blends experience and youth well.

“We go to the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls with renewed confidence and resolve. Our victories in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have given us new hope,” she said at the meeting attended by Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress’ leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, among others.

“Our opponents were earlier projected as being invincible. The Congress president took them head-on, mobilizing and motivating lakhs of our workers who, with him, gave their all,” she said.

Launching a scathing attack on the Modi government, Sonia Gandhi said: “The very foundations of our democratic republic, of our secular republic have come under systematic assault by the Modi government.”

The very values, principles and provisions of the Constitution have come under continued attack from the Modi government, she alleged.

“Institutions have been subverted. Political opponents have been hounded. Dissent has been suppressed. Freedom of speech – the most basic of all freedoms – has been sought to be curtailed and silenced,” the UPA chairperson said.

“Bluff, bluster and intimidation have been the governance philosophy of the Modi government. Truth and transparency have been brazenly tossed aside,” Sonia Gandhi alleged.

There is an all-pervasive atmosphere of fear and strife across the country, she claimed.