AMETHI: 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.
“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,” Gandhi said while addressing students and teachers at a closed-door meeting after inaugurating a private inter college at Jagdishpur.
Gandhi said the weaker sections, 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 the establishment of IITs and IIMs, Gandhi said that 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 them how to realise it,” he said.
Later, Gandhi also addressed a public meeting at Jagdishpur after inaugurating and dedicating to the public a number of road projects. He said former prime ministers, the late Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, had started development in the region. He called upon people to vote for his party in the 2017 assembly elections to ensure the formation of a Congress government in Uttar Pradesh.
{{/usCountry}}Later, Gandhi also addressed a public meeting at Jagdishpur after inaugurating and dedicating to the public a number of road projects. He said former prime ministers, the late Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, had started development in the region. He called upon people to vote for his party in the 2017 assembly elections to ensure the formation of a Congress government in Uttar Pradesh.
{{/usCountry}}Targeting Modi, Gandhi 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 PM 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 made ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election. “He had promised that `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. 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 said.