Rahul Gandhi says RSS a threat to multi-cultural India; condemns attack on journalists

Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was trying to crush the opinion of the people.

Sivasagar: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Narendra Modi-led NDA government and alleged that PM wants to impose an 'ideology' on the common mass and eliminate the history of Assam.

Rahul also claimed that PM Modi wants to rule the northeast by "remote control from Nagpur" (RSS headquarters).

On the last day of his two-day visit to Assam, while addressing a rally here, Rahul said, "Narendra Modi wants to rule Assam or Manipur or Arunachal Pradesh by remote control from Nagpur. Modi wants to impose only one line of thought by breaking the age-old tradition of peace, culture and history."

“15 years ago, I remember the day when in Assam there was violence, tears and blood were being shed. Youth had no future in Assam. Earlier, when people used to talk about Assam, they used to talk about violence.”

He further said, “But today there is peace, brotherhood, and friendship in Assam. Congress party ki soch nayi nhi hai, puraani soch hai, hazaaron saal se wahi soch Assam mein chali aa rhi hai.”

Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Rahul added, “Modi ji kehte the bohut mehangaayi ho gayi,mehangaayi ko main kam karunga aur aaj dal Rs 200 hai aur Modiji 15 lakh ka suit pehente hai."

Referring to Modi's handling of the northeast, he said he had one day rung up Congress president Sonia Gandhi and informed her that he had signed a "historic Nagaland accord" which the Congress could not in 40 years.

Sonia asked him (Rahul) to find out from chief ministers of Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh about the accord but all of them said they had no knowledge of it, he said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too said he had no information when contacted, Rahul claimed.

"Don't know what Modi was thinking and what he achieved by way of the Naga accord. There should be some weight and value in the prime minister's statement when he rings up a leader of the Opposition," he said.

Modi had announced the signing of an accord between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the Centre on August 3 last year.
"(Assam Chief Minister) Tarun Gogoi told me that Modi before visiting Assam does not take briefings on the state, does not want to know about it. He just talks about few things in the meetings here and then goes away," Rahul claimed.

Continuing his attack, the Congress vice-president said, "Modi's only aim is to help the few selected industrialists who are with him.

"Congress and Gogoi will never allow that in Assam as we respect your history and tradition and want to uphold them. We want to help the youth here."

Rahul said Congress believes in peace and working for the poor and the downtrodden. "On the other side are RSS and BJP people. During the (Lok Sabha) elections, Modi came to Assam, made speeches and spread hatred here."

"Modi made big promises about giving Rs 15 lakh in each Indian's bank account but none got it. Instead he wore a suit costing Rs 15 lakh," he said.

Noting that Modi will again come to Assam in the run-up to the assembly polls, the Congress vice-president said this time he will not speak about his promises but come up with new campaigns like his 'Make in India', 'Swachh Bharat', 'Connect India'.

Rahul condemns attack on journalists in Delhi, says "very wrong"

Condemning the attack on journalists outside the Patiala House Court premises in the national capital on Monday, Congress VP alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was trying to crush the opinion of the people.

“The way journalists were beaten up in a court in Delhi is very wrong and we condemn it,” he said.

Those assaulting students today were begging for mercy from the British Raj.

— INC India (@INCIndia) February 16, 2016

He said that the Congress Party would not accept it and would fight this out.

"The RSS backed people are being appointed as vice-chancellors in the universities and the voices of the students are being gagged. They are suppressing the voice of the Indian students whether in Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and in all the universities across the country. We will not accept this, we will fight against this," Gandhi told the media on the sidelines of his public rally here.

Meanwhile, the journalists carrying out a march from the Press Club of India in New Delhi to the Supreme Court in protest against the attack were stopped mid way.

Senior journalists, including Rajdeep Sardesai and Barkha Dutt, led the march.

Lawyers had allegedly roughed up journalists and JNU students, who were present on the court premises for a hearing on arrested JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar.

Earlier, a delegation of journalists met Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence to register their protest against the incident.

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi has said the investigation over the attack on journalists is on.

Talking to the media in New Delhi, Bassi said action will be taken as per law after identifying the people responsible. He said it was a surcharged atmosphere and allegations and counter allegations have been made.

(With Agency inputs)