New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday assured the people that if the Congress comes to power, citizenship will not be decided on the basis of caste, religion or language, but on the basis of the idea of India.
He said that it is the old party’s job to protect India’s constitution and democratic structure.
Addressing a massive election rally of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in this north Kerala district, he said the Constitution protects the rights of every Indian irrespective of his religion, state/where he hails from, language he speaks. And part of the culture.
“We will never decide citizenship on the basis of caste, religion or language. We will decide citizenship on the basis of the idea of India, nothing less,” asserted Gandhi.
He told the gathering, including hundreds of UDF workers, that it was the “sacred duty” of the Congress to protect every voice in this country, irrespective of caste, religion, language or age.
Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said it is a pity that the Prime Minister does not understand the nature of India.
“They do not understand that our many languages, traditions and religions are our greatest strength. They do not see that the most beautiful vision comes from these many perspectives. It is difficult for them to see this, because their only pursuit is to stay in power,” alleged Gandhi.
Criticizing Modi over electoral bonds, he said the Supreme Court had ruled the scheme illegal even though the prime minister claimed it was designed to bring transparency in the political system.
He alleged that the Prime Minister and the government did everything possible to prevent the names of the companies and the dates of those donations from coming out.
“This (electoral bond) is the biggest extortion racket on earth. It is a way of stealing from the people of India and it is organized and conceptualized by the Prime Minister himself,” alleged Gandhi.
He further alleged that BJP’s operation is to take the entire money of the country and give it to 20-25 businessmen.
Gandhi did not let the CPI(M) and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dry up in his scathing speech.
My question is why BJP is not attacking the Chief Minister of Kerala, why are they not taking away his house, Chief Ministership, filing cases against him in court or ED investigation? After all, two CMs are in jail. today,” asked the Congress leader.
He questioned why the CM is attacking the BJP when it is destroying the constitution, attacking democracy, destroying institutions and dividing the country.
“I am very happy for them to attack me but they should spend a little more time attacking BJP or RSS or Modi,” Gandhi said.