Rahul: People rejected hatred, violence, arrogance of BJP

Mallapuram, (Kerala): Former Congress president and newly elected Member of Parliament from Wayanad and Raebareli, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the people of the country have inflicted a fatal blow to BJP as they have rejected hatred, violence and arrogance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was heading a crippled government, he added.

“The hatred has been defeated by love and affection and arrogance has been defeated by humility,” he remarked while addressing a Thanksgiving programme in the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency here.

Undecided about Wayanad and Raebareli choice

Gandhi also said that he was faced with a dilemma as to which constituency he should retain between Wayanad and Raebareli. But, he assured that whatever decision he will take, will be liked by people in both constituencies.

The former Congress president said that the Opposition was focused on its pro-poor and compassionate agenda and it will continue to work on that.

Gandhi took a dig at PM Modi pointing out that people of the country had made him realise that just because he had control over the agencies like the ED, the CBI and the Income Tax, he cannot dictate terms to them.

‘People stopped changes to Constitution’

He pointed out, that while the BJP leaders, prior to the elections would say that they would change and replace the Constitution, immediately after the election results, PM Modi was seen bowing before the Constitution. He said, the credit for this change goes to the people of India, who conveyed a clear message that they will not allow anyone to touch their Constitution.

Asserting that the people of the country, including those from UP and Kerala had sent a clear message, Gandhi said, the prime minister barely managed to win from Varanasi and he himself would have been defeated there.

He pointed out, that the BJP was defeated in Ayodhya.

“Even the people of Ayodhya made it clear that we do not appreciate hatred and violence,” he observed, while adding, that the people have conveyed the single biggest message that there are multiple traditions, multiple states, multiple histories, multiple religions in India and all of these have to be respected.

Rahul speaks on the role of the Opposition

Referring to the role of the Opposition, he said, their task was cut out as they had provided an alternative vision that was pro-poor and compassionate to the people of India and they would continue to fight for it.

Taking a dig at the prime minister, Gandhi said, unlike him, he was not guided by God, as he was just a human being, so he was facing a dilemma. He said, his God are the poor people and he listens to them.

He said he was faced with a dilemma as to which of the two seats, Wayanad or Raebareli, he should retain. But, he assured that whatever decision he takes, will be liked by the people of both the constituencies. “What I will commit to you is that both Wayanad and Raebareli will be happy with my decision”, he added.