One who makes patriots fight can't be called nationalist: Rahul

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over its nationalism plank, asking whether a person, who makes two patriots fight, be called a nationalist.

Addressing his first public rally for the Delhi assembly polls in the Jungpura area for party candidate Tarvinder Singh Marwah, Gandhi also said that the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) do no work but only engage in marketing.

"I asked Marwah ji to say something about himself, but he gave a call for slogans, instead," he said.

Speaking about Marwah, the Congress leader said: "These days, BJP people talk about nationalism and patriotism and they keep talking about Pakistan. But he (Marwah) is such a leader who went to Pakistan and raised slogans in support of India. He was also hailed there."

"Show me a BJP leader who can go to Pakistan and raise slogans for India. Not like Modi, who shouts slogans amidst tight security," Rahul Gandhi said.

Attacking the BJP and Delhi's ruling AAP, Gandhi further said that both these parties "don't work but do only marketing".

Talking about the BJP's "nationalism" poll plank, Gandhi said: "Modi ji talked about giving employment to two crore youth every year, jobs which none of them got."

"What has the AAP done in the last 5 years for unemployment? Unemployment has grown in Delhi," he said.

He said the BJP had brought in demonetisation and the "Gabbar Singh Tax, referring to the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Gandhi slammed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for avoiding the issue of employment in an interview.

"When asked, she (Sitharaman) said that if I speak, Rahul Gandhi will raise questions and say I am lying. This means that Finance Minister is saying that I am not ready to tell how many youth have got employment," he said.

Describing the Union Budget 2020-21 as a hollow budget, the Congress leader said that that it does not have anything for farmers nor for creating jobs.

"It was a hollow speech and waived off Rs 1.5 lakh crore of corporate tax and Rs 3.5 lakh crore debt of 15 industrialists," he said.

"Indian Oil, Air India, Hindustan Petroleum, Railways, energy are up for sale, and in the coming days even the Red Fort or Taj Mahal can be put for sale," he said

He accused Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of not being interested in creating jobs.

"They are only bothered about how to make people fight among themselves. Entire world wants to invest in india. But now they see hatred, violence, rape, murder. In the last five years, wherever you see everyone talks with hatred. This is not our history, our country, the land of love and peace," he said

"They talk about Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, but they have no knowledge of religion. No religion talks about suppressing people of other religions. Which brand of Hinduism is it..of Modi and RSS? Hinduism talks of connecting everyone and take everyone forward. Guru Nanak also taught of taking everyone along with love and humility.

"Can a man who makes two patriots fight be a patriot or nationalist?", he added.

He targeted the Prime Minister for raising the Pakistan and terrorism issues in his speeches.

"The Prime Minister says I only speak lies, that I only talk about Pakistan and terrorism, but will not talk about employment because I don't have the guts to give jobs to the youth," he said.

Reminding the gathering about the developmental work done by former Chief Minister late Sheila Dikshit in the capital like the Metro, infrastructure, roads and flyovers, Gandhi said the Congress manifesto proposal of spending 25 per cent of the budget will go for the works to curb air pollution and towards acquiring 15,000 electric buses.

Besides, the Nyay scheme would provide Rs 7,20,000 to 5 lakh BPL families, a pension of Rs 5,000 each to senior citizens and free education for girls, he said.

"The prevailing atmosphere of hatred, violence against women in the country is also not benefiting the country," he added.IANS