Rahul: Those who refuse to fly tricolour call themselves nationalists
Launching a frontal attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that those who refuse to fly the tricolour were calling themselves nationalists.
The statement came hours after Gandhi withdrew his application from the Supreme Court, saying he was ready to face trial for his comments against the RSS.
“All sections of society – Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs – fought for the country’s freedom. But the RSS did not join them. Those who were busy dividing the country are now calling themselves nationalists,” the Congress vice-president said while addressing students and teachers during a closed-door meeting after inaugurating a private inter college at Jagdishpur.
Gandhi said the weaker sections, the Muslims and tribals were being terrorised. “We are with you. They are cowards. If you face them fearlessly, they will run away,” he said.
Referring to establishment of IITs and IIMs, he said such institutions were not set up in a year. “These institutions were built in 60 years as those who were behind it had big dreams for the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also showing big dreams to the people. But he is not telling the people how to realise it,” he said.
Later, Gandhi also addressed a public meeting at Jagdishpur after inaugurating and dedicating to public a number of road projects. He said former prime ministers, late Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, had started development in the region.
He called upon the people to vote for his party in 2017 assembly elections to ensure the formation of Congress government in Uttar Pradesh. Targeting the PM, he said, “When Modiji came here (in 2014), he had promised not to indulge in politics of vendetta. The PM is now indulging in politics of vendetta against the people of Amethi.” “The Prime Minister got the Hindustan Paper Mill project cancelled. It was to come up with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore and proposed to provide 10,000 jobs. The Mega Food Park, which was to have 40 industrial units, was also cancelled.
The Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) has been shifted out of Amethi and the central school has been put on hold. The people of Amethi did not commit any mistake but they are being targeted,” Gandhi said. He said the PM had failed to keep the promises he had made ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election. “He had promised that Rs 15 lakh would be credited to every account. He is talking about SMART cities. He promised to check corruption. But corruption has not been checked and prices of ‘daal’ have not come down. Never in the past ‘daal’ has been sold at Rs 200 per kg. Now Modiji is talking about ‘Make in India’. But the lion in Make in India (logo) does not roar. It has failed to provide even a single job,” he remarked. Gandhi said the UPA government had waived farmers’ loans worth about Rs 70,000 crore and added that the Congress would fight for the farmers, poor and the weaker sections.