The Congress is united under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Thursday adding that the party’s fight against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not personal, but ideological.
“[Congress President] Rahul Gandhi’s message to the people of India is clear: the fight against the BJP is not personal, it is ideological and based on differences in policies. We do not want the BJP to stop existing,” he said.
The newly-elected Rajasthan Chief Minister was speaking in Nanded district where he was invited by the State Congress unit led by MP and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan to inaugurate the statues of trail-blazing reformers Savitribai Phule and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule to mark Savitribai’s 188th birth anniversary.
“There is no place in democracy for hatred and violence. Politics based on hate is not permissible,” he said.
This was his first public programme since assuming office as Chief Minister of Rajasthan after the Congress victory in the November Assembly elections..
“Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule have become immortal through their work and both Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi respected them. The social revolution that they brought about, from ensuring women’s education to working against child marriage, needs to be carried forward by us,” said Mr. Gehlot, adding that the respect towards these legendary reformers was palpable across Maharashtra where there was an educational institute named after them in every town and village.
Earlier, Mr. Gehlot was welcomed at Nanded airport by Mr. Chavan. Praising Mr. Chavan’s leadership in Nanded, Mr. Gehlot said that the Congress’ victory, winning 73 of the 81 seats in the Nanded Municipal Corporation in October 2017, was a clear sign of the public’s yearning and acceptance of his leadership.
