Congress betrayed Gandhiji: Rajnath

Sambalpur, Jan 23 (UNI) BJP national president Rajnath Singh today said the Congress had betrayed Mahatma Gandhi who had dreamt of building ''Ram Rajya'' by questioning the very existence of ''Lord Ram''.

Addressing a massive rally organised here to celebrate the 150th year of the first war of independence which also coincided with the 200th birth anniversary freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai and 112th birthday of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose here, Mr Singh said the Congress had hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus in the country and abroad by submitting an affidavit in the apex court questioning the existence of Lord Ram.

Mr Singh said the Congress leaders uttered the name of Mahatma Gandhi on every occasion and claimed to be his true followers for its own vested interest but hardly followed his ideology and thoughts.

But BJP, on the contrary, follow the works of Gandhiji in letter and spirit, he said while addressing the meeting christened as ''Kranti samavesh.'' A host of senior leaders of the party including Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Party General secretary Binay Katiar were among others present.

Mr Singh said though 1857 revolution is treated as the first freedom struggle of the country but freedom fighters from Orissa like Baxi Jagabandhu, Jayi Rajguru, Chakhi Khuntia and Chakara Bisoi fought against British rule prior to it.

Jayi Rajguru was the first man of the country to be hanged for raising voice against British rules, recalled Mr Singh. The BJP president appealed to Naxalites to change society with ballots and not with bullets.

BJP state president Suresh Pujari lamented that the contribution of freedom fighters of Orissa was yet to be duly recognized. He said Vir Surendra Sai spent 37 years in British jails, the highest tenure of punishment for any freedom fighter in the world.

He said the dreams of the freedom fighters including the Father of the Nation are yet to materialize adding that the Kranti Samavesh' is the beginning for fulfilling dreams of those great souls who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country.

UNI XC-BD KK DB2043