Rahul accuses BJP of spreading fear, hatred; skips Savarkar mention at rally

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP of spreading fear hatred and violence and said the country can not progress under these circumstancesThe country will never benefit from hatred and those who experience violence in personal life are fearless and will never hurt others or spread illwill in the society said Rahul Gandhi whose Bharat Jodo Yatra has completed 12 days in MaharashtraAddressing a rally organised as part of the yatra at Shegaon in Buldhana district after visiting Sant Gajanan Maharaj Temple Rahul Gandhi however avoided any mention of freedom fighter V D Savarkar during his speechThe Congress MPs critical remarks on Savarkar in the last few days had invited criticism from ally Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and rival BJP and also triggered statewide protestsDescribing Maharashtra as the land that has produced national icons the former Congress president said Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Dr B R Ambedkar Mahatma Phule Savitribai Phule and Shahu Maharaj all of whom with deep roots in the state taught unity and brotherhood and the Bharat Jodo Yatra is taking forward their idealsRahul Gandhi accused the BJP of spreading fear hatred and violence and cautioned the country will never progress in an environment filled with animosityFarmers are in fear because of lack of minimum support price for agriculture produce and crop insurance payment while youths fear lack of employment opportunities The BJP is turning this fear into hatred and violence he allegedAlso Read Zomato cofounder Mohit Gupta resignsHe said farmers in Maharashtra are committing suicide due to low price of their produce and unavailability of adequate insurance protection when their crops suffer damage in unseasonal rains or floodsFarmers have only one thing to ask why their loan of Rs 50000 or Rs one lakh is being not waived while loans of wealthy people are being written off the Congress leader saidHe said when the Congressled UPA was in power at the Centre the government had given a financial package to cultivators of Vidarbha a region of Maharashtra prone to farmer suicidesIf you listen to peoples problems with love and affection the fear doesnt remain If a chief minister and the Prime Minister listen to farmers woes with compassion and love no farmer will commit suicide Rahul Gandhi maintainedThe Congress MP mentioned about his meeting with a soldier earlier in the day who lost both his legs and one arm and said the trooper told him he was grievously injured and was in hospital for monthsWhen I asked if he harboured hate he replied he doesnt hate anyone He has decided this is the new life he has got and he will live courageously Those who have experienced violence and got hurt dont have fear in their heart and do not hate anyone said the Lok Sabha member from KeralaRahul Gandhi paid tributes to Jijabai mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj saying she played an important role in shaping the life of the legendary Maratha warrior kingTushar Gandhi great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi who shared the dais with the Congress leader said those who criticise the yatra and question its aim of uniting the country are actually waiting for its divisionSuch people actually wish a division should happen True patriots are those who sense something is wrong and do something to ensure it is rectified Tushar Gandhi saidNCP leaders Rajesh Tope Rajendra Shingne Fauzia Khan Arun Gujarati and Eknath Khadse attended the rally along with local leaders of the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb ThackerayThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever