Rahul doubts ‘Kerala dear to me’ remark

Thiruvambady/Mukkam (Ker): Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi of according step-motherly treatment to the states not ruled by the BJP, which he dubbed as a party “blinded by hate and anger”.
The Congress president made the allegations, doubting Modi’s remarks on Saturday that Kerala from where the BJP won no Lok Sabha seat, was as dear to him as his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi.
Winding up his three-day thanksgiving visit to the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency from where he was elected in the recent polls, Gandhi said the BJP viewed those not following the RSS ideology as non-Indians and vowed to fight out the alleged bias.
Addressing people during his roadshows, Rahul Gandhi said Modi divided Indians for which the country will have to pay the price.
“I do not expect the prime minister to safeguard Kerala’s interest. I know from my experience that the prime minister views the BJP-ruled states differently from the states ruled by the Congress or other parties,” he said.
“I know the prime minister will not treat Kerala the same way he treats Uttar Pradesh because the CPI(M) is ruling here. He can come here and say whatever he wants,” he said.
After offering prayers at the famous Sri Krishna temple, Modi on Saturday said the Bharatiya Janata Party was not working for mere electoral politics, but was working to ensure that India gets its place of pride in the international arena.
“Elections have their place in democracy and it is the responsibility of the winner to take care of all 130 crore people. Those who made us win and those who could not, both are our (people). Kerala is as dear to me as Varanasi,” he had said, referring to his Lok Sabha constituency in UP. (PTI)