Patna, February 02: Unfazed by Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s attack on him, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday maintained that India is for Indians and hailed the sacrifice of NSG commandoes including those from Maharashtra in 26/11 attacks.
“In Mumbai (during the terror attacks), men in the NSG were from Bihar, UP, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. At that time they (Sena) did not say that those from Bihar and UP should be taken out. India has to move forward and all have to be taken forward,” he said addressing a press conference here.
Asked about the statement of Thackeray in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ that he had insulted 26/11 martyrs by only recognising the sacrifice of soldiers from UP and Bihar, Gandhi said: “Every part of India belongs to every Indian. I am not interested in the views of Bal Thackeray or Raj Thackeray. It may be their view… I also have my views but India is for Indians, there is no if and but,” Gandhi said.
“People have a right to go anywhere. I am not going to remain silent and stop people of UP and Bihar from going to Maharashtra,” the 39-year-old Congress General Secretary said.
“India belongs to every Indian. Every part of India belongs to every Indian. All Indians have every right to go and work anywhere in the country,” Gandhi told reporters.
“I am not going to be silent if there will be violence against any one in the country,” he said.
Gandhi denied that the Congress-led Maharashtra government had not acted against perpetrators of violence against migrant workers in the state.
“The Maharashtra government has taken action against culprits,” he said.
Gandhi’s Bihar trip, aimed at galvanising the state Congress unit for the assembly elections later this year, comes in the midst of a row triggered by the Shiv Sena campaign for Mumbai only for Marathis. The rift in the saffron parivar has also widened with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party criticising the Shiv Sena for its exclusionist view.
Gandhi began his visit Monday with hundreds of Congress workers and common people welcoming him in Champaran, Darbhanga and Gaya.
Congress leaders said party workers were upbeat at his visit. Gandhi would be interacting with students at the Patna Women’s College later Tuesday. After that he would visit Bhagalpur and Kishanganj to meet party youth workers.
–Agencies