I am blind to caste and religion: Rahul Gandhi

Deoband, UP, Mar 19 (UNI) Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi today invoked the legacy of the Gandhi family and said he was blind to caste and religious division which had wrecked havoc in the once flourishing Uttar Pradesh.

Asking the people not to forget that national interest is above everyone and everything the young Congress leader said , ''The only thing I can see is that I am an Indian and for me everyone is equal.'' ''Mein Indira Gandhi ka pota hoon, aur agar kisi Hindustani par doosra Hindustani haath uthata hai to mein uske saath khada hoon (I am Indira Gandhi's grandson and I stand for justice),'' the youth icon said speaking at the renowned Muslim seminary Darul-Uloom here.

In his address to the poeple of Deoband he requested them to think afresh to come out of the mess in which the once popular state finds itself today.

Once again calling unpon the youth to shoulder the burden and responsiblity of bringing back Uttar Pradesh on the path of development Mr Gandhi said it was their duty to bring about a decisive change in the state's fortunes for the sake of future generations.

Prior to this address the Gandhi scion visited Darul-Uloom and met its top leadership in a bid to influence them and move the Muslim voters of the region.

Mr Gandhi is the only one from the Gandhi family to have visited the region and Darul-Uloom in more than past two decades after his grandmother and former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi's visit.

His effort is seen as a measure to fill the leadership vacuum which had been created by the disillusionment of the people of the region from the Samajwadi Party, Bhujan Samaj Party and Bhartiya Janata Party.

UNI