Not scared of Modi challenge, says Rahul Gandhi

 

He made it clear for an “evil” act of two men (assassination of Indira Gandhi) he would never blame the entire community. In contrast, Gandhi said, “people had seen leaders from Gujarat administration attacking people.”

 

He made it categorically clear that he was “battle ready” and “not scared” of Modi or any challenger. Comparing himself to Arjun, Gandhi said he can only see one thing and that “the system needs be changed-the system was being destroyed.”

 

Asked if he was avoiding a direct face-off with Modi by not becoming the Prime Ministerial candidate, Gandhi said, “to understand that question, you have to understand a little bit, who Rahul Gandhi is and you get an answer to the question to what Rahul Gandhi is scared of and not scared of.”

 

Stating he had seen the death of his grandmother and his father, Gandhi maintained that after that “there was nothing to be scared of.”

 

He said the main point was not whether he was “afraid of Modi,” the main issue is that “there is a tremendous energy in India which is trapped and this energy needs to be released.”

 

Replying to a question on whether he would take responsibility if the Congress lost the polls, Gandhi replied: “If we don’t win, yes I will take the responsibility.”

 

Claiming that he “is absolutely against concept of dynasty politics,” Gandhi said children of politicians “get chosen as the system is closed.” Gandhi said that he was trying to “open up the system.”

 

Gandhi observed that he was not driven by power. He added: “Quest, thirst for power is not there in me… desire is to reduce the pain in people.”

 

On the issue corruption, Gandhi said that there would be “no compromise” and the party would take action against any leader found involved in corruption. 

 

Asked about Ashok Chavan’s role in the Adarsh scam, Gandhi said that there was a legal process, which was taking place. “I am not the judge, there’s a legal process,” he said.

 

 

 

 

For him, while the Congress at the Centre tried to stop 1984 Sikhs riots (after the assassination of Indira Gandhi) in Gujarat the government was "abetting and aiding riots". 

 

On asking whether he would apologise for 1984 Sikh riots, Gandhi steered clear by saying, “I was not operational in the party. I was not involved." He, however, reiterated that riots are a "horrible thing – innocent people died in 1984 – it should not have happened."  

 

Praising the Sikhs for being "industrious" and that the Prime Minister was a Sikh, Gandhi pointed out that during his grandmother's political crisis it was the Sikhs who "stood by her." He made it clear for an "evil" act of two men (assassination of Indira Gandhi) he would never blame the entire community. 

 

In an interview to a television channel, Gandhi claimed that "people had seen leaders from Gujarat administration attacking people." He also made it categorically clear that he was "battle ready" and "not scared" of Narendra Modi or any challenge. 

 

Comparing himself to "Arjun" (in Mahabharata), Gandhi said he can only see one thing and that "the system needs be changed – the system was being destroyed." 

 

Asked if he was avoiding a direct face-off with Modi by not becoming the Prime Ministerial candidate, Gandhi said, "To understand that question, you have to understand a little bit, who Rahul Gandhi is and you get an answer to the question to what Rahul Gandhi is scared of and not scared of."