As Congress turns 131, Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP of 'spreading anger' across India

Just a day after Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad poked fun at Rahul Gandhi for his lack of maturity, the Congress vice-president hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central stating how the BJP has formed a rigid view of everything, and that Prime Minister Narendra is spreading anger across India.

'The Congress is the idea that it is not only my view that will prevail,I must seek out your views.' At the #CongressFoundationDay @INCIndia pic.twitter.com/6q0UBbeEhi

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 28, 2016

Juxtaposing BJP’s ideology with that of Congress, Gandhi, speaking to Congress party workers on the 132nd foundation day of the Indian National Congress, alleged the BJP of following a rigid stance similar to its ideological head, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. [caption id=“attachment_3176234” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Rahul Gandhi. Reuters[/caption] Gandhi said: “Congress is not just a party, it’s an idea. Congress means being open to a second viewpoint. It means listening to you. It means listening to others. It doesn’t have a single rigid point of view.” Gandhi also alleged that the Modi-led government is following on the footpath of RSS and is spreading anger in the country, and called on his party workers to fight against this politics of anger. “Congress has to stand with the poor, the middle class, the labourers and the small traders. We have to go to the people. I am sure you will do this. And fight against this RSS ideology of spreading anger,” he said. Gandhi also mocked the Modi government’s decision to demonetise the old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 on 8 November. He said that the government has sacrificed the people. “The prime minister said he is performing a yagya against black money and corruption. The yagya of demonetisation is being performed for the one percent super rich. And just like a sacrifice made in a yagya, the prime minister has sacrificed the common people,” he said. With the 50-day deadline that Modi had asked for on 8 November, nearing an end, the Congress vice-president also raised five questions and released a charter of demands to the government in a press conference after addressing the Congress party workers. Gandhi asked the government to release information on the black money has been recovered due to demonetisation. He also demanded that the government should release the names of the people consulted by the prime minister and the number of people who lost their lives due to demonetisation along with the amount of compensation given to them. Gandhi also asked the prime minister to release the names of people who deposited more than Rs 25 lakh in their accounts before demonetisation, along with the names of those who have deposited money in Swiss banks. “The Swiss government has given all the names to the government. When will he present the names in the Parliament. Why is he trying to save these people,” Gandhi said. The Congress vice-president also demanded that the government should compensate those affected by demonetisaiton and to remove the withdrawal restriction of Rs 24,000 and return the financial freedom of the people. “The farmers have been hit the most. The prime minister should waive off their loans and give a bonus at 20 percent MSP. He should also give Rs 25,000 to each women from BPL families,” Gandhi said. He also demanded that the government should double the wages of daily workers under MNREGA and offer 50 percent discount in income tax and sales tax to small shop owners.