Gujarat’s voice can’t be purchased, says Rahul Gandhi

GANDHINAGAR: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said thousands of youths in Gujarat, belonging to all castes, will not remain silent now and their voices cannot be “suppressed” or “purchased”.

He was addressing a rally which marked formal joining of OBC leader Alpesh Thakor in the Congress as part of its strategy of broadening its political and social base to take on the long-ruling BJP.

Rahul attacked Modi and the BJP while latching on to the bribery allegation made by Narendra Patel, an activist of the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

Narendra Patel, within hours of joining the BJP, alleged Sunday night at a press conference that he was offered Rs10 million by the BJP and was given a token amount of Rs1 million, a charge rubbished by the saffron party.

“This Gujarati voice is not an ordinary voice. This voice of Gujarat cannot be silenced or suppressed. You can offer any thing, (Rs) one crore, (Rs) 10 crore, (Rs) 50 crore, (Rs) 1000 crore, entire budget of India, entire money of the world, (but) this Gujarati voice cannot be purchased,” Rahul said.

“In the past also, there were attempts to suppress this voice. British tried to suppress Gandhiji, first in South Africa, then in Gujarat and India. But the voice of Gujarat drove out that superpower from the country,” he said.

“Sardar Patelji, Gandhiji were from this land and they used to protect the voice of Gujarat,” he said. “But today this (BJP) government wants to suppress Gujarat’s voice. They are so scared that they want to buy the voice,” Rahul alleged, adding “Modiji, there is no price tag for this voice. Modiji you cannot purchase Gujarat’s voice.”

During Gandhi’s speech, Alpesh Thakor asked the crowd to be silent and listen to the Congress vice president’s speech. At this, Gandhi said, “You want to make the crowd silent Alpeshji? But they cannot remain silent. Modiji has harassed them so much that they cannot remain silent.” Full story @ timesofoman.com/world

- PTI ELATED: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi with the OBC leader Alpesh Thakor who joined the party, during a public meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on Monday.