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Leaders don't change the world, people do: Rahul

Days after Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial pick Narendra Modi raised his poll pitch in the northeast, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reached out to people in Assam's biggest city Guwahati saying his party wants to empower people.

Updated on: Feb 25, 2014, 16:57:02 IST
Hindustan Times | By , New Delhi
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Days after Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial pick Narendra Modi raised his poll pitch in the northeast, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reached out to people in Assam's biggest city Guwahati saying his party wants to empower people.

HT Image
HT Image

Modi had blamed the UPA government for the lack of development in the region and attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for neglecting his constituency in his speeches earlier this month.

"Those leaders who say things will change within 60 months are making fun of people," Gandhi said during his rally.

Gandhi stressed on the various bills that the UPA government has brought about and mocked the opposition's attempts to bring down the efforts.

"When we want to empower people, give right to food, they say money is being wasted," he said.

He also mentioned Arunachal Pradesh youth Nido Tania in his speech saying there should be a strong law against such incidents. Nido died in January after being allegedly beaten up by some shopkeepers in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area when he retaliated after they made fun of his hairstyle.

"Nido Tania, son of our MLA, was mistreated in Delhi. We think law should be made against such attack."

Modi has brought up Tania's death every time he has spoken in the northeast and questioned the Central government's stand on the incident.

Gandhi seemed to confront Modi's accusations against his party and the UPA government in his speech by taking on the points one by one.

"Politicians do not change the world, it is the people who change the world," Gandhi said.

"I want the youth of Assam to get the power to take Assam and India forward," he added.

He harked Mahatma Gandhi's message saying revolution can be brought about through peace.

"People who have arrogance and anger in them will be eradicated, as India is a land of love and peace," he told the crowd.

He asked supporters not to raise slogans against the opposition or show anger saying Congress is a peaceful party.

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