SHILLONG: AICC president Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for offering money to churches in Meghalaya.
Addressing party workers in Jowai, Rahul said the BJP has a lot of money and the party’s leadership believes that everything can be bought.
“I was very sad to hear that BJP offered money to our churches in what I consider to be a huge sum to the people of Meghalaya and the churches,” he said while pointing out that there is no amount of money that can buy the people of Meghalaya.
He said the BJP may buy a few leaders here and there as some leaders may defect to the BJP, or its proxy the NPP.
Stating that voting for the NPP amounts to voting for BJP, he added that neither party has the vision to change the future of Meghalaya.
In no uncertain terms, Rahul stated that the Congress would not allow the imposition of one idea on the top of India or any of its states even as he added that India’s grand old party is not only defending the idea of Meghalaya by glorifying its culture and heritage but is also committed to defending the idea of a plural and inclusive India.
“The battle is straightforward. It is between the forces that are eager to embrace different cultures and tie them up in a bond of love and those seeking to create divisions between cultures and fomenting hatred,” he said.
He also urged the Congress workers in Meghalaya to work together to ensure that the party wins as many seats as possible.
Meanwhile, the AICC chief also criticised the hurried implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and the demonetisation move of the Modi government.
Stress on unity
Rahul Gandhi has stressed the need for maintaining unity in the party while addressing a meeting of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress’ executive committee. However, the media was not privy to the discussions held behind closed doors.
