Kisanganj: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the BJP accusing it of spreading ‘hatred of communalism’ for the sake of power and ‘destroying’ the ideology of Mahatama Gandhi.
“They are bent on destroying the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi who taught us religious tolerance and brotherhood among all communities,” Sonia said reminding that it was ‘Martyr’s day’ when Gandhiji was assassinated by a fanatic.
“For the sake of the chair they are breaking age-old Ganga-Yamuna culture of the country and spreading communal hatred in society,” Sonia told a Congress rally after inaugurating a campus of the Aligarh Muslim University.
During her 10-minute speech, she said that communal forces were trying to fool the people through lofty talks, while the Congress always worked hard to strengthen the foundation of secularism in the country.
Amid a war of words between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Congress in the past two days over an invitation for the AMU function, Sonia said the UPA government had always been kind toward the state and allocated Rs 1.34 lakh crore for its development in the last 10 years.
Gandhi also said that the Congress always worked for the welfare of the minorities. “We implemented most of the recommendations of the Sachar Committee report and set up a corporation for development of wakf board properties,” she said.
The literacy rate among minorities had gone up through modern education provided in madarsas, the Congress President said.
Sonia listed the good work of the Congress-led ruling alliance and referred to the food law, Lokpal, MGNREGA and RTI.
She pointed to several initiatives taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government for improving women’s health and for empowering them.
She laid the foundation stone of the new centre of AMU at Chakla village on the western flank of Kisanganj along the river Mahananda.
Sonia called Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar before she laid the foundation stone. (PTI)
