Rahul likens RSS to Simi, BJP hits back
AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, speaking at a press conference here Wednesday at the end of a three-day Madhya Pradesh tour, equated the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh with the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India, saying both followed fundamentalist ideologies. He said he wanted to “open the gates of politics” to the young to “empower them to take on the task of nation-building”.
An angry BJP hit back, saying the remark showed Rahul’s “political immaturity”.
Said spokesman Prakash Javadekar: “Only a sick mind can do it (compare RSS to Simi). He seems to have lost his mental balance.” RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said Mr Gandhi “should brush up his knowledge before making meaningless statements”.
To a pointed query, Mr Gandhi said he could not condone the violent demolition of the Ayodhya mosque in 1992, adding that the legal process should move forward. On the high court verdict on the title suits, he said the Supreme Court would address the legalities involved.
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groupism in the Congress, Mr Gandhi said he preferred to focus on his “own” job — “(which) is different and very clear. I am responsible for the Youth Congress and have been given the task to restructure and electrify the system.”
On differences being publicly expressed by Congress leaders, he said the party was an “open forum” which “allows discussions ... but when it becomes dangerous for the party, a line has to be drawn.”
He brushed aside a question on when he would become Prime Minister, saying Dr Manmohan Singh was “very capable... He is much more capable than me.” He also refused to speculate. “What can be told about the future? Who can tell it?”
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