RSS-BJP taking us back to days of Rajas and Maharajas: Rahul Gandhi

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the RSS-BJP of taking India back to the days of Rajas and Maharajas.

“The fight for Independence was not just against the Britishers but also the Rajas and Maharajas…they had a sort of partnership…the RSS ideology is taking India back to the pre-Independence-era,” Gandhi said addressing a rally at Dighori Naka in Nagpur.

The rally venue was named Bharat Jodo Maidan and the mission is very clear - 'Hai Taiyaar Hum’ (We are Ready) - and coinciding with the 139th foundation day of the Congress, the grand old party launched the campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

“The Congress ideology states that the country should be run by people not by Rajas…BJP’s ideology is of ‘Raja ki vichardhara’…the orders in BJP regime come from the top…on the other hand, in Congress any worker can ask a question,” he said.

With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls just three months away, the Congress brought back the proposed Nyuntam Aay Yojana (Nyay) as a poll promise with grand old party’s President Mallikarjun Kharge expressing commitment to empower the poor of India.

“We are committed to the Nyay scheme…after the elections, when we come to power, we will implement it,” Kharge said addressing a rally at Dighori Naka in Nagpur coinciding with the Congress party’s 139th foundation day festivities.

Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said that the Congress is not at all worried. “We were not frightened of the Britishers so where is the question of getting worried because of (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, BJP and the RSS,” he said.

Kharge also accused Modi of speaking lies and making false promises. “What happened to the Rs 15 lakh promised in every bank account,” asked.

“For saving one BJP MP they suspended 147 MPs of opposition parties,” Kharge said, adding that democracy is at stake under the RSS—BJP regime.