SP, BJP and BSP have destroyed Gandhi's legacy: Azad

Lucknow, Aug 21: Alleging that SP, BJP and BSP have destroyed the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh by dividing the society, UP Congress incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad today said his party would seek votes in 2017 assembly polls on Gandhi's "principle of unity".

"In past 27 years, SP, BJP and BSP have got several chances of forming governments in the state. In return the people got 'Goondaraj', 'pariwarwad' (nepotism), corruption and their biggest sin is to divide the society," he said. "These parties divided the society in the name of religion and caste to seek votes and formed government.

They have destroyed legacy of Mahatama Gandhi and also Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi to unite the country. The people will not spare them for this," he said. Claiming that Congress always tried to unite people and worked in the interest of the country, Azad said, "the party will form government in the state on the principle of unity.

We will give message that we want to form a sucessful government not by dividing but by uniting the society". "After 27 years, we are once again trying to form government. We are contesting for forming the government and not only to increase our numbers (in assembly)," he said.

Hailing the decision to portray Sheila Dixit as UP's CM candidate, Azad said that she had made Delhi a "model state" in her 15 years regime. "We want UP shining like Delhi and that's why Sheila ji has been given this responsibility," he said.

He said that in the first phast of "27 saal UP behal" yatra, 10 districts were covered and now it will be divided in two groups to be led by Sheila Dixit and Raj Babbar respectively.

PTI