THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP on the day the exit polls projected a victory for it in the Gujarat Assembly elections. The Congress president-elect who inaugurated RSP stalwart Baby John's year-long birth centenary campaign, Tolerant India, Secular India, at Thycaud Police Ground here said: "We will defeat these (fascist) forces as we found that they are extremely weak". He came for the birth anniversary of 'Kerala Kissinger' after his whirlwind trip to the coastal villages of Poonthura and Vizhinjam here and Chinnathurai in Kanyakumari.
He said when he went to Gujarat, he expected to see the BJP's strength there, but was disappointed to see that the last 22 years of their rule was a "lie". He said lives of farmers, factory workers, women, public health units and education system had universally failed in Gujarat, except for 10 or 15 BJP cooperatives. "Congress party in Gujarat fought together unitedly and we fought on issues. We saw complete bankruptcy in Gujarat, and they talk about OBCs and vikas, but what was left for the PM was to criticise the previous PM and instead talk about himself", said Mr Gandhi.
He recalled that during his onward trip to the capital city, he was thinking of the name, 'Baby' John. "What are the values that a 'baby' has? A 'baby' is open to new ideas and treatment by the people. I realised that Baby John had got all the qualifications that you see in a 'baby' as Baby John," Mr Gandhi said. "He was a 'giant'. We should recognise his qualities and in the years to come remember about his guidance." RSP general secretary T. J. Chandrachoodan presided over the meeting, attended by Annamma Baby John, former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, KPCC president M. M. Hassan, Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty MP and others. A special postal cover and stamp on the late leader were also released.
