Nagpur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the fight between INDIA and NDA is a contest of ideologies. He said that in BJP, the order comes from above while in Congress, the "voice comes from below".
Addressing its mega rally 'Hain Taiyaar Hum' in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, the Congress leader said that a BJP MP recently told him that all orders in the party is given by the high command which has to be accepted by the lower rank leaders whether they like it or not.
"It is just as the king issues orders from above and the followers accept it not. Nobody can express any dount or raise questions at the order," he said adding, "A BJP MP who was earlier with Congress told me that 'ghulami' exists in BJP."
Comparing this with the organisational format of Congress, Rahul said that in the grand old party even the grassroot level worker has the right to speak his mind. Unlike the BJP, even the junior-most Congress leader can question or disagree with top leaders, he added.
"There has been many instances where workers have approached me questioning as to why I took a certain decision. I always made it a point to explain my reasons clearly. Sometimes I even told them openly that I did not like their point or view and it has been vice versa. In Congress voice comes from below unlike the BJP," he said.
Rahul said that India's freedom struggle was not only against the British but against the kings who ruled at that time. "Kings had a partnership with the British and the Congress fought against it for the people of the country. Prior to Independence, people had no rights. We changed it," he said.
Rahul alleged that Vice Chancellors are being appointed not on merit but on because of their political affiliation. He sounded the poll bugle from the rally urging people to join hands in the fight against BJP to protect democracy. "Don't fear anyone. Together we will win elections in Maharashtra and the country," he added.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that today democracy is under threat and the common people are suffering from inflation and unemployment. "There are two ideologies. One is the progressive ideology of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the other ideology is of destruction that is of RSS," he said while addressing the rally.
"In the last 10 years, the BJP and the RSS have been disturbing the country. If the Sangh government is not stopped then the country will move towards destruction, democracy will be finished. The constitution that was prepared by Ambedkar and Pandit Nehru will also be finished," he said.
Urging workers not to feel demoralised by the recent defeat in three heartland states, Kharge said, "We were defeated in a few states but don't lose hope we will definitely win. We were not afraid of British, will we be afraid of BJP?"
"PM Modi blames that we don't come to Parliament. When to come to the House we are turned out, not allowed to speak. We just wanted a probe on Parliament security breach. But in order to save one member they suspended 146 MPs", he added.
Earlier, Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who arrived in Nagpur for the rally said that Congress' roots were established in Maharashtra, a state which has played a significant role in the party's foundation. "The history of Congress is the history of the country. So, we have decided to celebrate our 139th foundation day in Nagpur," he said.
Echoing the same, Congress leader Pawan Khera said that Nagpur is a historical place, a site from where the roots of Congress strengthened and grew. Maharashtra, particularly Nagpur, has a huge role to play in the organisation of the Congress, Khera said.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on arriving at the rally site said that Congress' ideology runs from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and it shows the unity of strength.
Earlier while deliberating on the significance of selecting Nagpur, MLA Nitin Raut said that former prime minister Indira Gandhi had held a public meeting here after Emergency and the party won all the seats. History will repeat itself, he said.
The rally assumes more significance as it is being held in Nagpur, the headquarters of the RSS and the place where Dr BR Ambedkar embraced Buddhism.
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