Remember, it was NSG men from U.P. & Bihar who took on 26/11 gunmen: Rahul

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi at the Bhitiharwa Ashram, associated with Mahatma Gandhi, in Champaran on Monday during his two-day visit to Bihar.

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday criticised the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for their unabated tirade against people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, reminding them that NSG men who vanquished terrorists during the 26/11 attacks were also from these two States and other places.

And taking a swipe at the two Sena outfits, Mr. Gandhi said, “If terrorists have to be fought with, let Biharis remain there[Mumbai].”

“In Maharashtra, MNS leader Raj Thackeray keeps saying ‘throw out people of Bihar and U.P’. But, who killed the terrorists who had attacked Mumbai? They were the NSG guys from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and from the rest of the country. At that time they did not say throw away Biharis,” Mr. Gandhi pointed out, interacting with workers of the Youth Congress and the NSUI here.

To go it alone in Bihar

Mr. Gandhi, who set out on a tour of the NDA-ruled Bihar where the Assembly elections are due later this year, said the Congress would go it alone as it did in the Lok Sabha polls.

“Congress workers will fight for the rights of the people without fear and bring about a change in Bihar,” he said at Bettiah.

Lamenting lack of development in the State, he asked youth to change Bihar. “Bihar has to be changed and it is the youth who will bring about this change by joining politics. There is no problem with the people of Bihar.”

The Congress leader took pot shots at the BJP-Janata Dal(United) government, saying funds sent by the Centre for development schemes were not utilised properly.