New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed BJP and RSS, while lauding MDMK general secretary Vaiko during the launch of the latter’s book `Vaiko in Parliament’ in New Delhi.Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saying he was “forgiving” protesting students instead of addressing their demands.“We are going through strange times in our country. Students are on the streets, in severe pain. Youngsters don’t have work. They are asking for fairness in exams and an education system that works. On the other side, we have a prime minister who is forgiving them,” said Gandhi.“Who is he to forgive them? Where does he get this idea that he has the right to forgive the future of India? “ he said.Gandhi alleged that the RSS ideology seeks to reduce India’s diversity to a single narrative, while the Constitution recognises India as a “Union of States”, each representing the distinct history, language, culture and aspirations of its people.“When you say Tamil Nadu, we are not just saying empty words. Inside those words is the history of Tamil people, their language, their pain, suffering and happiness. Every single state has the right to that expression and must be treated fairly,” he said. Gandhi said attempts to undermine the identity of states and their cultures lay at the heart of the present political contest.He described Vaiko as “a consistent politician” who had served not only Tamil Nadu but also “the Indian Union”.National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah echoed concerns over federalism and said BJP could replicate what it did to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 if the party remained in power. He called for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.CPM general secretary M A Baby, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav CPI general secretary D Raja, Congress leader P Chidambaram, MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko, Tamil Maanila Congress president G K Vasan, and TVK minister A Rajmohan. Akhilesh called Vaiko a passionate parliamentarian who championed the cause of Tamil Nadu and its people.
