TRS, BJP, MIM on the same page: Rahul Gandhi

​Hyderabad: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the BJP, TRS and MIM are good friends and they have been working together to divide the people.

Rahul Gandhi was addressing a public meeting to mark Rajiv Sadbhavana Yatra at the historic Charminar here on Saturday night. Speaking in the old city of Hyderabad, the bastion of MIM, he spared no words to target the party. Rajiv Gandhi led the Sadbhavan Yatra 28 years ago from this historic place. The Congress, he said, had been working hard to unite the people.

Speaking on the politics of dividing the people, he said, "The first question being asked today is about caste, religion, State or language and the most important question of people being Indian is being sidelined. Whether it is Rohit Vemula, any Dalit, Adivasi or a Muslim...in different States, they are being intimidated and threatened.

Today women are afraid of coming out of their houses fearing dire consequences. There is a reason for this fear and it is the Prime Minister himself," he said, while alleging that Prime Minister Modi was working to divide the nation.

Directly hitting out at the MIM, Rahul Gandhi said some divisive forces have been working together. "Why the MIM is helping PM Modi? They helped the BJP in Maharashtra, Bihar and other States. Their ideology is same and they practise divisive politics of spreading hatred. This country belongs to everyone," he said. Rahul Gandhi described the demonetisation as the most insane act and said it had ruined the country's economy.

He said Modi made everyone stand in the queue in the name of weeding out black money. However, he took away people's money to help his friends like Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallaya and Anil Ambani. He said through demonetisation, Prime Minister Modi has turned the black money of all his friends into white. While the entire world criticised the move, K Chandrashekara Rao supported it just because it was done by Modi.

"Modi wanted to be a 'chowkidar' (watchman) for the country. But today he is working only as the 'chowkidar' of Anil Ambani. He benefitted Anil Ambani to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore through the dubious deal of Rafale aircraft. It is your money. Imagine what could have been done with those Rs 30,000 crore which were given to Anil Ambani. We could have constructed a Metro Rail in Old City, waived crop loans or sponsored education for poor children," he said.

Strongly objecting to the installation of Veer Sarvarkar's portrait in the Parliament House, Rahul Gandhi said 'Sarvarkar' was not 'Veer' (brave) as he had sent a petition to the British, apologising for the his participation in the freedom movement. Sarvarkar expressed his willing to do anything for the British Raj if he was released from prison. The Congress President said he would respect his opponents. "I do not spread hatred. I speak to even my enemies with love. This is our real culture and this country will progress only when we move together," he said.

Earlier, TPCC President N Uttam Kumar Reddy, in his speech, said that Chandrashekhar Rao was an agent and 'chamcha' (sychophant) of Prime Minister Modi. Stating that he was born in the Nizamia Tibbi Hospital at Charminar, Uttam Kumar Reddy said he was born in the Old City and had every right to seek votes from the people for the Congress party. Senior leaders R C Khuntia, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, G Niranjan, M Anjan Kumar Yadav, V Hanumantha Rao, Nadeem Javeed, Anil Kumar Yadav, Mukesh Goud, Marri Shashidhar Reddy, Shaik Abdullah Sohail, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, R Anand Bhaskar were also present.