India passing through tough times: AK Antony

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27: From being a land of peace, India is passing through tough time since Narendra Modi became the prime minister, former defence minister A.K. Antony said on Tuesday.

"The country is passing through tough times. India was once a model. Today it has come to a stage that what one can eat, what one can wear and what one can write are coming under the scrutiny of the BJP, RSS, Sangh Parivar," Antony told reporters here.

He said barring Modi's speeches, "everything is in shambles in our country.

"Agriculture is in crisis. Farmers are committing suicide. No fresh investments are coming. No new jobs are being created.

"Look at what has happened in Muzaffarnagar, Maharashtra and Haryana," he said, referring to attacks on Muslims and Dalits.

"It has come to a stage that the RSS decides everything. Where is the India Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru spoke about?" the Congress leader asked.

Antony condemned the call given by Hindu Mahasabha to celebrate the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin as 'Balidan Diwas' on November 15.

IANS