Rahul in Dharamsala: RSS is a venomous organisation

Dharamsala, March 20: Sharpening his attack on RSS and Narendra Modi,

on Thursday accused them of trying to usurp the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and recalled the

stalwart's description of RSS as "a venomous organisation" which could "finish" the country.

Launching the poll campaign of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh from this picturesque hill town, Rahul took a dig at the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, saying it is an irony that a person who lived all his life with RSS ideology is now installing Sardar Patel's statue and it appears he has neither read the history nor the views of Patel.

The Congress Vice President quoted Sardar Patel’s views on RSS and said that Patel had described the RSS as "a venomous organisation which could finish the country."

Accusing the BJP of pursuing the politics of hatred to divide the people on communal, caste, creed and regional lines, Rahul told the rally at Police Stadium that BJP talks of Hinduism but acts against the spirit of Bhagwad Gita which preached love and brotherhood.

Rahul: BJP is pursuing the politics of hatred to divide the people

Claiming that the UPA government had taken several steps like Right to Information (RTI) Act and Lokpal to curb corruption, he accused the opposition of blocking about a half-a-dozen bills in Parliament aimed at effectively checking corruption.

Holding the Opposition responsible for non-passage of Women's Reservation Bill, he said the Congress party is committed to women empowerment and it would not only provide reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State assemblies but also give adequate reservation to them in ministries and government departments.

Before reaching the rally site, Rahul attended a meeting of ex-servicemen at Tanda near Dharamshala. Addressing the meeting, he termed the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as a "battle of thoughts", saying while the Congress stood for empowering the people, the opposition represented only the rich in the country.

PTI