Modi rules like the British; divides Indians, loots wealth: Rahul
Deccan ChronicleKanyakumari: Surpassing the expectations of the most ardent of his followers and belying disparaging criticism from rivals, Rahul Gandhi launched his life’s biggest political activity — a walk from Kanyakumari to Kashmir that will stretch non-stop for 200-odd days, to try to change the opinion of a majority of Indians about their biggest current political icon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The reluctant Congress president-transformed-uncompromising warrior Gandhi said, “Like the British, Mr Modi divides us. He tries to make Indians fight amongst ourselves, even as a handful of his favourite crony businesses, operating like the East India Company, loot the nation.” Thanking the people of Tamil Nadu for their love, calling it a state he loved visiting, Mr Gandhi stirred a strong emotional reaction: people were aware he was talking of a state where his father was killed. Mr Gandhi said that even as prices go high, unemployment peaks at record highs, the currency gets weaker, the economy fails to generate jobs, Mr Modi’s mismatched policies, like a mutant GST, demonetisation and farm bills, had the net result of unemployment and disenchantment of youth. Ghulam Nabi Azad, if he had heard the speech, might have rued his decision, and advised Rahul to first “Jodo” the Congress — because Mr Gandhi seems to have started doing it.