Rahul attacks Centre over intolerance, says divisive forces ruining nation's reputation

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said that incumbently divisive politics is being practised in India.

While addressing a gathering at Times Square in New York, Gandhi said that people around the globe are questioning that why tolerance level in India is reducing and where is that harmony which once prevailed.

Asserting that for 1000s of years, India has had a reputation of peace and harmony Gandhi noted that recently few forces which are trying to divide the nation are ruining nation's peaceful image.

"The single biggest thing most people told me and the questions raised outside India is what has happened to the tolerance that used to prevail in India? What has happened to the harmony in India? There are a couple of challenges that India is facing. There is a divisive politics going on in India," said Gandhi.

"For 1000s of years, India has had a reputation of peace and harmony. There are forces dividing India and ruining our reputation abroad. And it is very dangerous for the country," he added.

Gandhi further said India comprises of people of various religions and all are living happily because of Congress and its ideas.

"Some people View India as a Piece of Land, But I view India as a set of Idea, we have many religions, many languages, every one of them living happily that is due to the idea of Congress," Gandhi said.

Gandhi also averred that many countries facing violent times are looking towards India anticipating that India has the answer for peaceful coexistence in the 21st century and that is why we cannot afford to lose our most powerful asset.

"The world is transforming and people are looking towards us. China is rising and we have the relationship with the United States. Many countries in a violent world are looking towards India and are saying that maybe India has the answer for peaceful coexistence in the 21st century. So we cannot afford to lose our most powerful asset. Our most powerful asset is that 1.3 billion people lived happily, non-violently and peacefully. India belongs to all of us, and that is what the Congress Party is," said Gandhi.

-ANI