'I am Rahul Gandhi, not Rahul Savarkar; will die, but will never apologise'

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 14

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said he "will die but never apologise" for speaking the "truth" as he is a Gandhi and not a Savarkar, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his "assistant" Amit Shah instead to apologise for "destroying" the economy of the country.

He was addressing a mammoth Bharat Bachao Rally at Ram Lila Grounds here. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday signaled her cadres to be ready for a long struggle to secure justice for farmers, labourers, small traders, youth and women, saying she will fight to preserve India’s constitution till the last breath of her life.

Sonia warned against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 saying the legislation will “shred India’s soul and go against everything the nation builders fought for.”

“The BJP Government was under pressure to implement the Citizenship Amendment Bill. They do not care that this Bill will shred India’s soul, the soul for which our nation builders like BR Ambedkar struggled hard. But I can say with conviction that our country and our foundations will not allow such divisive steps. I assure we will stand with those who will face injustice,” Sonia Gandhi said terming the ruling government “andher nagri chaupat raja”.

Citing job losses, farmers’ suicides, burdened middle class, poor labourers, unemployed youth and women, Sonia Gandhi said she would fight for the preservation of the Constitution till her last breath, and posed a question to cadres, “Are you ready to struggle for the bright future of our youth, security of our women, justice for our farmers and poor labourers? Are you ready?”

A spirited gathering responded with agreement even as Sonia Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for pushing legislations without debate.

“Kahaan hai sabka saath sabka vikas? What has happened to the economy? Where are the jobs? Why should there not be a probe into where the black money went for which demonetisaion was done?

Should there be a probe into GST revenues or not? Why is the treasury empty? Where is the money the Government got after implementing note ban? Why are our navratnas being sold and to whom? And why is people’s money not secure in banks? People can’t keep their money at homes nor in banks? Modi and Shah call these ache din? The condition is such – implement anything you want; pass any legislation without debate; they pretend to celebrate the Constitution and undermine it daily,” said Congress chief asking the cadres to be ready for struggles against the BJP.

Earlier speaking at the event, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi slammed the Government for “dividing India”.

He said he won’t apologise for speaking the truth. “I am Rahul Gandhi. I am not Rahul Savarkar,” he said asking everyone to see what PM Modi had done to the northeast.

“The entire country is being divided. Northeast is burning. You don’t divide India. You nurture it. They divide it,” said Gandhi referring to BJP’s demand for an apology for his “rape in India” remarks.

Rahul Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Vadra earlier addressed the gathering saying those who do not speak against prevailing injustices will go down in history as cowards.

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