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I am blind to caste and religion: Rahul
March 20, 2007 01:22 IST
Invoking the legacy of the Gandhi family, Amethi parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi, who is campaigning for the Congress for the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh polls, has said that he is blind to caste and religious division, which has wrecked havoc in the once flourishing state.
Addressing people at the renowned Muslim seminary Darul-Uloom in Deoband, the young Congress leader said, "The only thing I can see is that I am an Indian and for me everyone is equal. Mein Indira Gandhi ka pota hoon, aur agar kisi Hindustani par doosra Hindustani haath uthata hai to mein uske saath khada hoon (I am Indira Gandhi's grandson and I stand for justice)."
Reminding people that they not to forget that national interest was above everyone and everything, Rahul requested them to think afresh to come out of the mess in which the once popular state
finds itself today.
Calling upon the youth to shoulder the burden and responsibility of bringing back Uttar Pradesh on the path of development, Rahul said it was their duty to bring about a decisive change in the state's fortunes for the sake of future generations.
Prior to the address, the Amethi parliamentarian visited Darul-Uloom and met its top leadership in a bid to influence them and move the Muslim voters of the region.
Rahul is the first member of the Gandhi family to have visited the region and Darul-Uloom in more than two decades. The area was last visited by Rahul's grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
His effort is seen as a measure to fill the leadership vacuum, which had been created by the disillusionment of the people of the region from the Samajwadi Party, Bhujan Samaj Party and Bhartiya Janata Party.
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Coverage: Uttar Pradesh Elections 2007
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