Congress: Kashmir, integral part of India, is nobody’s business : Rahul Gandhi

Congress: ‘Fight between Gandhi’s and Godse’s vision’

· Asserts, no problem with privatization, but with crony capitalism

NEW DELHI, September 8: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said that attempts were being made to change the nature of the country with the current regime trying to centralize everything. He said, it is the fight between Mahatma Gandhis’ vision and Nathuram Godse’s vision.

Addressing a press conference at the Brussels Press Club, organized by the Indian Overseas’ Congress (IOC) in Brussels today, Mr Gandhi also clarified that the Congress party did not have any problem with the private sector, but was definitely against crony capitalism and monopolies.

On the reported moves to change the name of the country, Mr Gandhi said, this question should be asked to the Prime Minister. “I am perfectly happy with the name that we are having in our constitution; India that is Bharat”, he remarked, while adding, this (the name change) was a panic reaction as the opposition parties had named their alliance as INDIA and the Prime Minister probably wants to change the name of the country. “It’s interesting that everytime we raise the issue of Mr. Adani, and crony-capitalism, the PM comes out with some dramatic new diversion tactic.”, he added.

Accompanied by the IOC Chairman Mr Sam Pitroda, the senior Congress leader fielded a wide range of questions including those on domestic and international issues. He said the purpose of his visit was to reach out to the Indian Diaspora in Europe, besides meeting local leaders and public representatives.

Replying to a question on India’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine War, Mr Gandhi said, “opposition parties by and large agreed with India’s position. “I don’t think the opposition will have a different view than what the government is currently proposing”, he said, while pointing out, we have a relationship with Russia. He said, India is a large country and it has relationships with all countries like the United States and those in Europe. “India has every right to have relationships with other countries the way it wants”, the Congress leader asserted.

Asked about the discrimination prevailing in India today, Mr Gandhi agreed that there was an increase in discrimination and violence and there was a full scale assault on democratic institutions of the country. “Of course minorities are under attack, but so are many other communities like Dalits, tribals and lower caste communities”, he added.

Asserting that there were attempts to change the nature of the country, he said, “our country according to our constitution is described as a union of states and we believe that the most central aspect of our union is the conversation between members of the union”.

Referring to the BJP’s vision, he said, “there is an alternative vision that is the BJP vision which believes that power should be centralised and concentrated and the conversation between people should be suppressed”. “This is a fight between two visions and I like to describe it as a fight between Mahatma Gandhi’s vision and Nathuram Godse’s vision”, he remarked.

To a question on India hosting the G20 meet, he said, it was a good thing. To a separate related question about Congress president Mr Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly not having been invited for the G20 dinner, he remarked, “what is contrary about it…it tells you something…they (the BJP) don’t value the leader of India’s 60 percent population”.

To a question on Congress party’s stand on Kashmir and Article 370, he said, it had been spelt out in one of the party’s resolutions already. To another question, he asserted in categorical and unambiguous terms, “Kashmir is an integral part of India…so it is nobody’s business other than our own, other than India’s business”.

At the same time, he added, “it is very important that democratic institutions and democratic structures need to be protected in India and the voice of people needs to be defended and protected and that goes for every part of India including Kashmir”.

On a question about privatisation in the country, Mr Gandhi made it categorically clear that the Congress party did not have any problem with the private sector, but with crony capitalism. “We draw the line when one or two people start to financially control the whole country”, he said, adding, “1/2/3 people are running the country and that is where our problems begin”.

He said the policies of the current government were such that it destroyed and devastated the small and medium sector, which is the largest provider of employment. He said, the GST and demonetisation was a two-pronged attack on this sector, while on the other hand two or three monopolies were created. Quoting an example, he pointed out, Adani controls everything like airports, ports, agriculture, infrastructure, cement production and so on.

He said, during his 4,000 kilometers Bharat Jodo Yatra he was told by the youth about three main problems which included rising unemployment, rising poverty, skewed distribution of wealth where few people get rich while majority gets poorer and rising prices and high inflation.