Dharamsala, March 20 (IANS) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Thursday hit out at the BJP's ideological offshoot RSS, saying even Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel described it as a "poisonous outfit that can destroy the nation".
"Sardar Patel ne kaha tha ki RSS ek zehreela sangathan hai (Sardar Patel had said RSS is a poisonous outfit)," Gandhi said at a rally here in Kangra district, some 250 km from Shimla.
Clad in a white kurta with jeans and donning a Himachali cap, Gandhi said "the opposition in a similar fashion is trying to appropriate Sardar Patel's legacy".
Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, he said: "It's an irony that a person who lived all his life with RSS ideology is now installing his statue and it appears that he has not even read the history of Sardar Patel."
"BJP's tallest leaders in parliament had said India would be destroyed due to computers, but I won't name them."
He also lashed out at the BJP over claims of development, saying its leaders were taking false credit.
Himachal Pradesh, which has four Lok Sabha seats, will go to polls May 7.
Gandhi said the Congress would ensure that 70 crore people enter the middle class in the next five years and claimed that 15 crore people were brought out of poverty by the UPA government.
"We do politics to empower people. Congress will continue to work to provide education and employment to people," he said.
"During the UPA regime, the number of roads built was three times more than during the NDA regime," he said, listing the achievements of the Congress-led UPA government.
"Our opponents are lacking farsightedness," he said.
The industrial corridor project, he said, would usher in a manufacturing revolution.
"The UPA government has taken up the industrial corridor project and it's committed to complete it, which will generate more employment opportunities. Now, the maximum manufacturing takes place in China. In future, it will be in India," he said.
Blaming the opposition for non-passage of the women's reservation bill, he said the Congress was committed to women's empowerment and would not only provide reservation to them in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but also give adequate reservation in the ministries and in the party's organisation.
To woo ex-servicemen, Gandhi said the UPA accepted their long pending demand of "one rank, one pension".
Stating that he favours changes in the present education system, the Congress leader said: "The opportunities of higher education are limited and change in the system is required so that maximum people have access to higher education."
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his cabinet colleagues were present at the rally.
In the 2009 elections, the BJP won Shimla (reserved), Kangra and Hamirpur, while the Congress bagged the Mandi seat.
IMF: IMF advised countries to save foreign exchange reserves, said- they should be used judiciously
The IMF has urged countries to preserve vital foreign reserves amid the strengthening of the US dollar and weakening of other major currencies, including the Indian rupee. This is necessary to deal
Coronavirus Updates: Corona's speed started increasing in India, new cases crossed three thousand in 24 hours, active cases also increased
The new cases of corona in the country (Corona Cases in India) have crossed the three thousand mark. The Ministry of Health issued an update regarding Corona on Thursday. According to the report, more
Hearing on Maharashtra crisis in SC adjourned till Monday: Sibal's appeal - do not send the matter to the Constitution Bench; EC's argument - it is necessary to decide on the party
The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing till Monday on the crisis arising out of the rights of Shiv Sena. The court said- On Monday, the court will give its decision on whether this matter should
SBI Ecowrap Report: India has the lowest inflation compared to developed countries, better management
Central banks around the world are aggressively raising interest rates to control rising inflation amid fears of an economic recession. India has also increased its policy rates. But, on the front of
India will continue to buy cheaper crude from Russia, and will give priority to its economic interests
India will decide on the purchase of crude oil from Russia only based on its interests. This simply means that after February 2022, the pace at which it has started buying more crude oil from Russia,
PM Modi's focus is on these 7 things, said on the inauguration of cancer hospitals in Assam - there should be no competition with death
Cancer Hospitals In Assam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of 7 new cancer hospitals during a program at Khanikar Maidan in Dibrugarh in Assam. During this, PM Modi said that
Rinku Sharma's murder boils in Delhi, VHP claims - Murder on raising funds for Ram temple
The murder of 25-year-old youth Rinku Sharma in the Mangolpuri area of Delhi has caught fire. Demanding justice for Rinku has started trending on Twitter with the hashtag #JusticeForRinkuSharma.
Mandaus cyclone moving towards Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry, NDRF team ready, Orange alert in 12 districts
Cyclone Mandaus, which originated from the Bay of Bengal, is moving towards Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry. Heavy rain, lightning, and strong wind are expected in these states due to the
Joe Biden and PM Modi will meet leaders of Pacific island countries, future strategy will be discussed
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said that US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join leaders of the Pacific Islands next month for a historic future strategy
The rupee closes above 83 against the dollar for the first time, today fell by 61 paise
Dollar Vs Rupee: There is a continuous decline in the Indian Rupee. On Wednesday, the Indian rupee closed at an all-time low level against the US dollar. It closed at 83.01 with a fall of 61 paise.