People in UP welcomed my visits to Dalit houses: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi, Sep 30 (ANI): Congress party general secretary Rahul Gandhi has said that people in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra had whole heartedly welcomed his visits to Dalit houses.

Addressing National Students Union of India (NSUI) activists at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Gandhi said: " When I go to their houses, they welcome and cuddle me and say you are the first politician who has come to meet us."

He said he was left wondering about the criticism made against his visits to these houses.

"If one politician goes to a Dalit's house, you ask why do you go to a Dalit's house. When thousands of leaders do not visit Dalit houses, you do not ask them why do they not go," Gandhi questioned.

"I go to a poor man's house. It is the media which says it is a Dalit or an Adivasi house," Gandhi added.

Commenting on the hierarchal system existing in Indian politics Gandhi said: "The hierarchal system exists. It is a reality. But what is the option before me?"

Underlining his party's commitment to for the cause of the Aam Admi, Rahul stressed on sustained economic growth and schemes to uplift the lot of the poor.

"Money does not grow on trees. Without growth, where is the money going to come from? In order to have money you have to let the economy grow," he said.

Rahul also claimed the country has been recording a growth rate of nine per cent.

He reiterated the UPA Government's commitment to implement the recommendations of the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee. (ANI)