Sonia Gandhi pays tribute to Galwan Valley martyrs on Independence Day, stresses on democratic values, unity

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi extended her greetings on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day on Saturday and stressed on the democratic values India stands for. “India is not only known across the world for its democratic values, diversity of languages, culture, religions and communities, She is also known for facing any adverse situation with unity.”

Sonia Gandhi expressed hope that in these dark times when the entire world is grappling with Coronavirus pandemic, India will together rise, win over the pandemic and come out of the ensuing economic crisis too.

Mentioning India’s the democratic values inherent in the culture of India she said in her statement, “We have tested our democratic values from time to time in the last 74 years of independence and have continuously developed them. Today, it seems as if the government is standing against the democratic system, constitutional values and established traditions. It is also a testing time for our democracy.”

The Congress president paid tribute to the twenty soldiers martyred in Galwan Valley stand off with China and urged the Modi government to recall their valour and give them due respect. “The real tribute to them would be to protect our motherland and thwart the Chinese incursions,” she said.

She urged every citizen to introspect and think about what the real meaning of being independent is. “Is there freedom in the country today to write, to speak, to ask questions, to disagree, to have views, to seek accountability?”

She further added that as a responsible opposition party, it’s “our responsibility to make every effort, we struggle at every step to keep India’s democratic freedom intact and unharmed.”