RSS people killed Gandhiji: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi accused the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) of creating a rift between the people of different religions, castes and communities during his election rally at Sonale village near Bhiwandi on Thursday.

The Gandhi scion also lashed out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), blaming the outfit for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Taking digs at the saffron party, Rahul alleged that their policies are borrowed from nations like Germany and Italy. "But the policies of the Congress are inspired from the Bhagwad Gita and the preachings of Ashoka, Shivaji and Gandhiji. Our ideologies are over a 1,000 years old and were born in Maharashtra and all our growth and progress are because we give a patient ear to the poor, adivasis and the minorities.

One man alone cannot shape the nation or build its future. It's the legacy of the Congress to take along all factions of the society together. The Congress has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and hence our ideology cannot be erased so easily," said Gandhi.

He spoke about inclusive developmental politics of the Congress in his 20-minute speech. "It is the poor who take the country forward. If we have to take the country forward, we will have to listen to the poor and include them in our progress. The opposition never talks about the poor, or the weak, but when the Congress talks about Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (MNREGA), they say that money is being wasted. But if the same money is given to a rich man, the money is not wasted but contributes in the progress of India. We are not saying that there should be no economic development, but everyone should get an equal share. Tell me the name of one single programme where the Congress has not been inclusive," he added.

"If you go through all our policies in the last 10 years – from MNREGA, Right to Information (RTI) to food policies – we have always included everyone from the society. All, including the adivasis, should reap the fruits of development. Whatever we have done has been done through your help," said Gandhi, adding that the Congress is a party of the poor.

The Congress leader attributed technological advancement in the country to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and technocrat Sam Pitroda. "When it comes to computers, it was Rajiv Gandhi, Sam Pitroda and other young leaders who introduced it in India. But at those times the most senior opposition leader in Parliament had questioned saying why was Rajiv Gandhi talking about computers. According to them, India did not need computers as it would snatch away jobs. Look what happened, computers have changed India. After 10 years, the same leaders said it was they who gave computers and telecom to India.

Similarly, after five-ten years, they will say MNREGA and RTI were their creation," Rahul said.

"Maharashtra has been progressing very fast and the connectivity to the state will help the youth to travel to developing areas like Thane for employment opportunities. A mega powerloom policy is in the pipeline and this will generate around 2 lakh employment facilities in Bhiwandi. The cluster development policy that has been approved will provide houses to many. Talks are on with the chief minister about the Metro that is needed in Thane," said Gandhi.

He also requested Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thackeray to provide more seats to women, "I hardly find women among the audience, they are always made to sit behind. When 50% of the population in the country are women then why are they not visible in our parliament and even in these gatherings. Women and youth should come forward and special reservation should be given to women," he said.