I am Congress, I stand with last person in line, says Rahul over Muslim row

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 17

Under attack from the BJP for his overtly pro-Muslim stance, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took to Twitter in defence saying he stood with all marginalised and exploited and their religion did not matter to him.

“I stand with the last person in the line. The exploited, marginalised and the persecuted. Their religion, caste or beliefs matter little to me.  I seek out those in pain and embrace them. I erase hatred and fear. I love all living beings. I am the Congress,” Gandhi said in response to a concerted campaign by the BJP and is senior leaders who have been asking Gandhi to clarify what he meant when he said Congress is a party for the Muslims.

The BJP has been attacking the Gandhi scion for what they describe as communal remarks directed to appease one community.

Gandhi has been in trouble after an Urdu daily Inquilab recently attributed these controversial remarks to him.

The daily quoted some Muslim intellectuals as saying that Gandhi assured them in a meeting of being a party for the Muslims.

The prime minister personally led the attack against the Congress three days ago asking whether the Congress belonged only to Muslim men because it is averse to the anti-instant triple talaq law, which benefits Muslim women.

Thereafter, ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Prakash Javadekar and Manohar Parrikar have been cornering Gandhi for the same comments.

The issue blew over after Congress minority cell chief Nadeem Javed defended Gandhis remarks saying there was nothing wrong in what he said.