Rahul Gandhi Attacks BJP on Corruption, FDI

In what seem to be a "veiled attack" on BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday questioned the Opposition's stand concerning corruption allegations against its party members.

Gandhi was addressing a rally at Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh when he asserted that his party always took action whenever allegations of corruption cropped up.

"Did they (BJP) take any action when corruption charges were levelled against them and their leaders? They did not utter even a word," The Hindu quoted Gandhi as saying.

While blaming BJP for opposing Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha, Gandhi claimed that it was Congress which brought the Right to Information Act.

He retaliated that BJP was opposing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) solely because it was proposed by Congress. "They were not against FDI when their government was in Delhi. Then they wanted to bring a bill on FDI. Now when we are bringing it, they are opposing it only because Congress is doing this" Gandhi said.

"Opposition will say MNREGA is wrong, farmers' loan waiver is wrong, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is wrong and FDI is wrong simply because Congress is doing it," he added.

He also urged youth and women to step into politics and bring changes in the system. "As long as you remain out of the system, as long as a new generation does not come in politics, this system cannot change. I want to bring new people, youths and particularly women in politics. States where women joined politics and were conscious developed fast," he said.

Highlighting the issue of unemployment in Himachal Pradesh, Gandhi advised the people to vote for Congress to counter and overcome the problem.