Opposition dividing people on communal lines: Rahul

Shillong, March 18 (IANS) The opposition is dividing the people of India on communal lines, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said here Tuesday while launching his election campaign in Meghalaya.

“The opposition believes in centralisation of power and politics of anger. But the Congress believes in uniting people, giving power to people, to youth, to women to transform the society and in the politics of love,” Gandhi said at a huge rally at Resubelpara, the district headquarters of North Garo Hills.

“We should create an India in which all of you feel that wherever we go, we will be welcomed with open arms. Such an ideology which attacks north Indians in Maharashtra, northeast people in Delhi… this is the ideology of the opposition,” he said, referring to the death of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania in Delhi.

Gandhi was campaigning for party candidate Daryl William Momin, who is pitted against former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma.

“Congress stands for every single Indian for their equal space in the country. People of Garo Hills and Meghalaya should feel at home anywhere in India,” he said.

Gandhi wondered why the opposition was not using the Right to Information Act.

“Congress has given the Right to Information Act. However, the opposition keeps on targeting us. If they have anything to point out, why are they not using RTI,” he asked.

He said the Congress took the initiative to introduce six anti-corruption bills, but the opposition did not allow the passage of the bills in parliament.

Gandhi said 14 crore people have been benefited by MGNREGA and the food security act.

“We will continue to work for the interest of the people. We will transform lives of 70 crore people, who are from the middle class,” he said.

Wooing women voters in this matrilineal state, the Congress leader said: “Policies for financial inclusion of women has been undertaken by the Congress and the party has also ensured reservation of women in parliament and state assemblies.”

“Women should get reservation, that’s why we are discussing a law for 33 percent reservation in parliament,” he said.