Rahul Gandhi claims Congress never makes militancy a political agenda

Mau (UP), July 22 (ANI): Congress General secretary Rahul Gandhi has condemned the opposition for exploiting militancy as a political agenda.

Addressing 'Potential Candidates Meet' in Mau on Thursday, Gandhi said he very well understands the pain of losing near and dear ones in militant attacks as he himself lost his father (Rajiv Gandhi) and grandmother (Indira Gandhi) in militant attacks.

"My father and my grandmother were killed by the militants. I very well understand the militants. There are people who make militancy a political agenda but our party never does that," said Gandhi.

Gandhi further slammed the opposition party for releasing three militants Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Maulana Masood Azhar in exchange forIndian passengers when militants had hijacked IC 814 Indian Airlines Airbus A300 en route from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu to Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi, India) on December 24, 1999.

"They (NDA government) released the deadliest militant from the jail and that militant attacked Mumbai and today those people are lecturing us on militancy. We never bow down in front of anybody as they do. We understand militancy very well and we fight against the militants," said Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi also urged the youth to unite for the development of the state so that people do not have to leave their homes in search of better education and employment.

However, people here were skeptical about the benefits of Rahul Gandhi's visit to village saying that it would not bring any change in their lives.

"If his (Rahul Gandhi's) prime agenda is development then his party is in power. He can lead there from Delhi and bring in certain changes. Prices of diesel, petrol, LPG (cooking gas) and rubber are skyrocketing and if he wants he can bring a change from Delhi only. The people would then pay tributes to him and equate him to God but nothing will change from this tour. Prices will go up and would never come down," said Rakesh Kumar. (ANI)