Rahul locks horn with RSS, BJP hits back with fury
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a stinging attack on the Modi government and the RSS, accusing them of trying to change the Constitution of the country and urged all Opposition parties to fight them unitedly.
“After Independence, (Jawaharlal) Nehruji, (Sardar Vallabhbhai) Patelji, (B.R.) Ambedkarji all talked about one man, one vote system. They know well that till the time there is one man, one vote system in the country, till that time the country doesn't belong to them,” he told a ‘Save Composite Culture’ conclave called by rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav.
The BJP hit back at Rahul Gandhi almost immediately. Terming it an alliance of “scared people”, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked why they were silent on the killings of RSS-BJP workers in Kerala. “On behalf of the BJP I ask the organisers of the composite culture how they consider the merciless killings of RSS workers by CPI(M) goons in Kerala. Is it part of composite culture? Why is Rahul Gandhi silent on these killings? Where are the so called intellectuals who returned their awards in the name of intolerance?
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi said the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) was aware that with its ideology it would not win elections and that was the reason why they were placing their men in every institution — bureaucracy, media and universities. “If we have to fight them, then we have to fight unitedly,” he said, adding that Congressmen believe that they belong to the country and want to do something for it while the BJP and the RSS claim that this country belonged only to them.
Rahul said that the RSS' most prominent leader during the Independence movement wrote to the Britishers offering apology in return for freedom from prison. “They pleaded for their freedom. None of the Congress leaders or leaders of the other parties except the RSS pleaded with the Britishers,” he said. He also accused the BJP and the RSS of attacking from behind. “They never attack from the front and they are champions in running away.”
Referring to the attack on his convoy in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi said: “When stones were thrown at my cavalcade and black flags were shown by BJP workers, I stopped there to speak with them. But soon after I got off my vehicle and went towards them, they ran away. And this is their quality.”
He said the BJP had promised to create two crore jobs every year and give Rs 15 lakh to every household but failed on both these counts.
Rahul Gandhi said the BJP had promised to create two crore jobs every year and give Rs 15 lakh to every household but failed on both these counts