Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Modi, says PM took hour-long economics lesson from Manmohan Singh
New Delhi: Stepping up the offensive, Rahul Gandhi hit out at BJP's ideological mentor RSS on Thursday saying its belief was "murdering" individuality and that thought process is now running the country in which only one man knows everything from farmers to clothes.
In a brief but sharp speech at the national convention of NSUI, the Congress Vice President also took a dig at the Prime Minister saying after his predecessor Manmohan Singh criticised the health of economy in the morning yesterday, Narendra Modi took "pathshaala" (lessons) from him in the evening.
Gandhi, who had to wait at the dais for some time as the enthusiastic supporters cheered him, said that it took him 10 years to understand that this "disorder" is in the DNA and strength of Congress family and contrasted it with "order and discipline" at RSS shakhas which kills individual thinking.
"You see the shakhas of RSS. There is a straight queue in shakhas. If any one makes a noise there, he will be hit with a baton. Have you talked to any RSS and BJP leader? Discipline is just an excuse for them to murder individuality. And this is the thought process, which is running the country.”
"One person knows everything. Whether it is about farmers' issues or education or even clothes, only one person knows everything. We say let everyone come, sit together and speak on issues. A solution will emerge. They (RSS and BJP) say you come and sit here silently... Only one person will speak," he said.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi talks with National President of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) Amrinder Singh Raja and others during the NSUI National Convention in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
Gandhi, who has launched a series of attacks on the Modi government ever since his return last month after nearly a two month break, also alleged that the government was trying to stifle the "internal dialogue" of the country.
"RSS does not allow debate or dialogue. Discipline is used as an excuse to murder individuality and an excuse to silence lakhs of people. They raise their arms like they did in Germany. I won't even do that," he said.
Noting that the people of the country have a mind of their own, he said, "We are not alone... Those belonging to the shakhas do not understand this. The entire country is like this. Every person has knowledge, and knows what is good for him. All persons of all religion, caste know it.
"There are internal dialogues inside Congress party. On that side (BJP), they have stopped internal dialogue. They are trying to stop the internal dialogue of the entire country."
Asking the party's student wing cadres to fight RSS in educational institutions wherever RSS is imposing its ideology, Gandhi said, "Wherever RSS tries to impose its thought process, you stand and stop them. Wherever they want to bring the order of shakha, take the Congress party's disorder there."
Suggesting that BJP functions the same way as RSS, Gandhi said, "If you have talked to any BJP leader, they have the same opinion. The entire world runs like this. There is nothing else. It has been running for the last thousand years like this and will remain so."
Attacking the Prime Minister on his promises, he said Modi asserted that he wanted to help the poor but is yet to visit the house of any farmer or poor even as he has toured a number of countries.
"He has completed the tour of France, US, Japan and even went as far as Mongolia and China but did not visit the house of a farmer or a labourer. He had said he would bring back black money in 100 days. Now they are celebrating one year of government. 100 days are over long time back but black money has not returned," he said.
Recalling that Modi had said that education was empowerment, the Congress Vice President rued that the NDA government on the contrary "slashed" the budget.
Alleging interference of RSS in education in the backdrop of the controversy over appointments in some key institutions, he said, "RSS has its total influence (poora haath) on the education ministry.
"Earlier eminent scientists used to give their suggestions to IITs and IIMs. Now they don't want to give their suggestions. They want to withdraw. Because a certain ideology is being imposed."
Though Gandhi did not take any name, the reference was obviously to nuclear scientist Anil Kakodakar, who resigned as chairman of the board of governors of IT-Bombay in March following differences with the HRD ministry headed by Smriti Irani.
Asking youth leaders to fight this out, he said that universities and educational institutions are the future of the country be it IITs, IIMs or schools.
