Will not allow imposition of one idea on top of India, Rahul

SHILLONG, JAN 30: Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said the party will not allow the imposition of one idea on top of India even as he pledged to defend the languages, culture and customs of Meghalaya.

“We are not going to allow the imposition of one idea on top of India or any other any of its states,” Rahul said while addressing Congress workers at Jowai, the district headquarter of West Jaintia Hills, during his two-day visit on Tuesday.

“We are going to work with you, defend your languages and tribal customs because we are proud of them and we are convinced that without your customs, culture and languages, India will be weakened,” he said.

According to him, when the culture of the people is defended it is also defending the idea of Meghalaya and also the idea of plural and inclusive India that everyone love.

Stating that the battle is straight forward, Rahul said it is embracing different cultures between love and dividing culture and creation of hatred.

“I am here to tell you that the Congress party is going to work together with our different cultures, ideas when everybody feels that they can express what is in their hearts and say what they want and happily live in India that embraces them,” he said.

With Meghalaya all set to go to polls on February 27, the Congress chief appealed to party workers to work together and make as many of its candidates win as possible.

“I have an old relationship with NE and Meghalaya. My grandmother is fond of NE, father is fond of NE and I intend to come here often and spend a longer period with you and understand your culture and customs and understand deeply what Meghalaya is,” he said.

Attacking the BJP, Rahul said that the leadership of the saffron party which has a lot of money believes that everybody can be bought while referring to BJP’s recent Rs 70 crore pre-poll sobs to the churches and religious institutions in Meghalaya.

“I was very sad to hear that the BJP offered money to our churches in what I considered to be a huge sum to the people of Meghalaya and the churches. There is no price there is no amount of money that can buy the people of Meghalaya,” he said.

The Congress chief also said that the BJP may buy a few leaders here and there as few leaders may defect to the BJP or their proxy the NPP.

“Vote to NPP is voting BJP but they will not be able to change the future of Meghalaya. I am here to tell you that we are proud of your culture and language and religious customs and we are to defend them with you,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Congress president also address party workers in the state’s capital and is attending a musical evening to connect more with the youth and the people of poll-bound state.

Tomorrow, he will be meeting religious and traditional leaders as part of kick-starting the election campaign in the state. Meghalaya is going for polls on February 27and counting will be held on March 3.

By Our Reporter