Alleges orchestration of inflammatory narrative on nationalism, exploitation of religious sentiments

A delegation of various Opposition parties led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi met President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday to express concern over a number of issues ranging from the rise of vigilante groups, the undermining of institutions and the passage of key and far-reaching legislation in the form of money Bills.

“(A) matter of grave concern is the prevailing environment of fear and insecurity in the country. Triggering false debates, manufacturing post-truths, orchestrating an inflammatory narrative on nationalism and exploiting religious sentiments, muzzling voices of dissent and threats of violence to the citizens, are vitiating the environment and jeopardising the cause of peace and security,” said the memorandum the parties submitted.

‘Threat to rule of law’

The parties complained of a ‘threat’ to the rule of law. “In a democracy, where rule of law must always prevail, lumpen elements masquerading as vigilantes, moral police, gau rakshaks and anti-romeo squads to further a narrow agenda, have created an environment of harassment, violence and mob lynching of citizens, unacceptable in a constitutional democracy...”

Expressing concern over what it claimed was the bypassing of crucial Parliamentary scrutiny of legislation, the memorandum said: “Many key bills masked as Money Bills expose the intention of the government to deny the Council of States its constitutional position in the enactment of laws. Changing 11 Acts through the omnibus Finance Bill, 2017 is unprecedented, improper and shocking.”

It also expressed concern over the alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines and top appointments in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library and Nalanda University.

Kashmir violence

“Continued violence resulting in deaths and injuries and failure of governance in J&K is a matter of great national concern,” the memorandum said.

Apart from Congress, the memorandum was signed by leaders from NCP, BSP, SP, CPI-M, CPI, JD-U and DMK, among others.