New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP on Monday, accusing it of wanting to create "two Hindustans", one for the rich and chosen big industrialists and the other for the poor, the tribals and Dalits.
Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Banswara district, which predominantly has a tribal population, Rahul Gandhi said, "It's a fight between two ideologies. On one side is Congress' ideology that says that we have to go ahead by bringing everyone together, respect everyone and protect everyone's history and culture. On other side is BJP, which creates divides and erases tribals' history and culture."
Slamming the ruling party at the Centre, Gandhi charged that the BJP wanted to create two Hindustans but Congress "wants only one Hindustan".
"This is a fight that is going on today in India. We connect people, they divide people. We help the weak, they help chosen big industrialists," Gandhi said.
"BJP wants to build two Indias - one for the rich, 2-3 big industrialists and the other for the poor, the tribals, Dalits, the backward and the weak. We don't want two Indias, we want one India where everyone gets the opportunity to fulfill their dreams," the former Congress chief said.
Rahul also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of destroying the country's economy, which was "strengthened" by the former UPA government.
"The BJP government has attacked our economy. PM did demonetisation, wrongly implemented GST due to which the economy got destroyed. UPA worked to strengthen the economy but Narendra Modi caused harm to our economy," Gandhi said at the rally.
Attempting to strike a chord with the tribal comunity, Rahul Gandhi said the relationship between Congress and the tribals was very old and deep.
"We protect your history. We don't want to erase or suppress your history. During the UPA govt, we had brought a historic law to protect your land, forest and water," he said.
"Through PESA and Land acquisition Bill, we protected your wealth, your produce in forests and directed its benefits to the tribals," Gandhi further said.