Rahul Gandhi breaks silence on 'Congress for Muslim' controversy

Modi at a rally last week said, “I read in the newspaper that the Congress president had said that the Congress is a party of Muslims, and there has been discussion on this for the past two days... But I want to ask the Congress whether it is a party of Muslim men alone” PM’s comments came in an apparent reference to a report on a meeting of the Congress President with Muslim intellectuals. The Congress had denied the charge.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi (PIC/Twitter account)

New Delhi: Days after PM Narendra Modi mocked Congress for being a party only for Muslim men; Rahul Gandhi today said his party stands with the "with the last person in the line." “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 tweeted to send out an apparent message that the Congress supports not just the minorities but also the poor and weak from every other religion & community.

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. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 17, 2018

Modi at a rally last week said, “I read in the newspaper that the Congress president had said that the Congress is a party of Muslims, and there has been discussion on this for the past two days... But I want to ask the Congress whether it is a party of Muslim men alone” PM’s comments came in an apparent reference to a report on a meeting of the Congress President with Muslim intellectuals. The Congress had denied the charge. Modi’s taunt comes also ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament where The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 abolishing instant triple talaq is pending in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling BJP is not in majority. Meanwhile, BSP chief Mayawati expelled newly appointed vice president Jai Prakash Singh today after he said Rahul Gandhi could never succeed in Indian politics because his mother was of Italian origin.