In a blistering attack on the Narendra Modi government, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said on Wednesday that '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 hailed party president Rahul Gandhi, saying he has brought fresh energy into the party organisation and put together a team that blends experience and youth.

'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, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, and others.

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

Bluff, bluster and intimidation have been the governance philosophy of the Modi government. Truth and transparency have been brazenly tossed aside.

Sonia Gandhi

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

She said the values, principles and provisions of the Constitution are under threat. '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 alleged.

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