BJP’s stand on graft an eyewash: Rahul Gandhi

A thin crowd welcomed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at Panipat Sunday where he launched a scathing attack on the BJP over its “double-standards” towards corruption and the attempt to “divide the society on communal lines”.

Rahul referred to the reinduction of tainted former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa into the BJP. “When they (BJP leaders) go to Karnataka, Yeddyurappa is standing by their side. In Gujarat, three tainted ministers were in jail and are still with them… Then they go to Chhattisgarh where mining mafia rules and still they fail to see corruption. The same is the case in Madhya Pradesh and other places,” he said.

Rahul then targeted the BJP for trying to divide the people on religious lines. He alleged that BJP’s “divisive” policy was responsible for spoiling the country’s secular fabric, while stressing that Congress’ ideology was to unite the people, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

“They make you fight each other, pit Hindus against Muslims,” he said, and referred to the attacks carried out by BJP ally Shiv Sena on migrant workers from UP and Bihar in Mumbai. “We take everybody along… This is our politics. We do not play politics of hatred,” he added.