Secular values under threat due to BJP, RSS ideology: Sonia Gandhi at Karimnagar rally

Karimnagar: Launching a scathing attack on BJP and RSS, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said secular values of the country are under "threat" because of their ideology of "sectarian politics and hatred".

"Every man and woman in Telangana safeguarded the secular values which are soul of India. Mahatma Gandhi, all freedom fighters and other great leaders had this vision", the

UPA Chairperson said, addressing an election rally here in Telangana, which goes to polls on April 30.

"Indiramma (Indira Gandhi) and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for those values, but today they are under threat because of the ideology of RSS and BJP. Congress never discriminated against any one based (on) religion, caste, creed and language. Congress always tried to bring people together," she said.

Gandhi said, "BJP and connected organisations are doing sectarian politics and spreading hatred".

Attacking the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for returning to the NDA fold, Gandhi said, "TDP has also embraced these fundamentalist forces. Other parties may join hands with BJP in the days to come in pursuit of the lust for power. You need to be alert...You should not get provoked and get carried away by provocation of BJP".

Gandhi said the UPA government, during its ten-year rule, had worked for all sections of the people and implemented "revolutionary" schemes and programmes. "It has given legal rights to every citizen," she added.