AAP's Kumar Vishwas targets Rahul: Sleeping in Dalit homes won't change things

After dethroning the Congress in its Delhi bastion, the Aam Aadmi Party has decided to throw the gauntlet at the grand old party’s second-in-command Rahul Gandhi -- and that too in Amethi, the political home ground of the Gandhis for decades. Sharat Pradhan reports 

Aam Aadmi Party’s vociferous leader Kumar Vishwas on Sunday stormed into Amethi with a cavalcade of 60 vehicles, threatening to demolish the Gandhi scion’s monopoly in the constituency ever since he inherited it on a platter after his father Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.

“Our party is opposed to dynastic politics, therefore I have chosen to take on Rahul here,” poet-turned-politician Vishwas told the crowds that had gathered at this tiny town’s Ramleela ground .

He remained undaunted by the odds put up by Congress supporters, who not only showed black flags but also raised anti-AAP slogans at some places along the 140-km route from Lucknow to Amethi.

Reacting to the slogans raised against him and his party, Vishwas told the gathering, “Let them do anything; if they wish to kill me, let them try that also; but I wish to make it loud and clear to all and sundry that I am here to stay until the end of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.”

He went on to add, “I am ready to face all onslaughts; I will not even raise my hand against anyone."

Significantly, a local lawyer has offered Vishwas a place to stay in this town. “I will stay here and let me assure you that you the people of Amethi will now create history by bringing an end to the dynastic rule of the Gandhi family here,” declared Vishwas.

“We have had enough of one family which has rendered much lip service, without doing anything concrete in all these decades.”

He also lambasted Rahul for not caring to improve the quality of roads in Amethi. “You can see for yourself how bad are the roads all over Amethi. I am also aware how hundreds of villages have been cut off because of the collapse of a bridge that has not been repaired for months,” he pointed out.

Vishwas also drew the attention of the crowds to Rahul’s silence on major issues in the country. “I fail to understand why the otherwise powerful MP always goes into hiding whenever a major scam is exposed or serious issues relating to rising corruption in governance are discussed.”

Rahul fans did make noise and tried to boo Vishwas , but there was also no dearth of AAP admirers who hailed the new political outfit’s courage and conviction to take on the country’s most powerful political family.

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Further taking on Rahul, Vishwas said the "rajkumar" had just indulged in "symbolism" by eating in houses of Dalits and not raised even a single question related to the people of Amethi in Parliament in the past 10 years. He asked the people to vote for an "aam aadmi" (common man) instead of a prince.

Reacting to the protests by locals who pelted stones at the vehicles carrying AAP volunteers in parts of Amethi, Vishwas sought to know, "Why are they doing so. What have I done? Is Amethi a separate country, where I would need passport to come?"

Later, on being asked about the protests against the AAP, Vishwas termed these as "sponsored"

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The AAP leader said no one should underestimate the power of the common man and asked the people to end dynastic politics.

"We did not want to fight elections, but were forced to do so after being challenged by the Congress."

He also ridiculed Rahul for staying in homes of Dalits and eating with them . “Staging such melodrama would not impress the people of Amethi anymore. Has he ever cared to find out whether a Dalit living in his constituency had had his day’s meal, which is what he should be doing as a member of Parliament,” he remarked.

"Sleeping in Dalit houses under SPG security or eating with Dalits won't help or change things."

"This fight is not easy. I have come here to stay. I will not go back till you put your stamp on me," he said.

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Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi's local representative Chandra Kant Dubey denied that Congressmen were involved in protests against Vishwas. "Our party workers are busy in celebrating Vivekanand Jayanti and Priyanka's birthday. None of them were involved in the protest against Vishwas."

Vishwas also attacked other political parties by alleging that they were all together and cited the example of Dimple Yadav's Kannauj victory when other parties did not field anyone against her. She is the wife of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and was elected unopposed.

The AAP leader also mocked at Congressmen for only thinking about Priyanka Gandhi's birthday and said though she is their sister, they have come to Amethi to celebrate Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary.

"The more you hit us, our 1,000 votes will increase every day. In Delhi too, they threw black ink on Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh, but later the people threw the same ink on them in the elections by throwing them out of the power," he said.

On Saturday, AAP's press conference in Lucknow was briefly disrupted by a youth, who threw an egg at Vishwas and raised slogans against him.

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The AAP leader also questioned why Sonia Gandhi chose to go abroad for treatment, saying she "did not trust Indians".

"Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) had a major operation in India. Everywhere abroad Indians are trusted, but she did not have trust on our sons (Indians). That is why she used to visit the US," Vishwas said.

Targeting the Congress, he said after facing defeat in Delhi, the party said that they failed to market themselves.

"They consider politics as a market and talk about marketing.... They are here to sell politics. We are here for service," he said and asked the people of Amethi whether they will show the mirror to the "arrogant king".

Commenting on Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma's statement terming him a "joker", Vishwas said that a joker was a good person as at least he can bring a smile on a face. "A joker does not sell the country. He does not eat coal. He does not insult the Constitution. He only makes a person smile. He is better than a thief," he said.

"My victory or defeat does not matter...I belong to an ordinary family," Vishwas said.

Recalling a story of a potter, who used to beat his donkey but it did not leave him as he used to touch his feet every night when he used to tie him with the peg, Vishwas said, "Now you, the people of Amethi, should decide whether you want to remain like the donkey or make the right decision". "He (Rahul) wants to tie you with a peg for the next five years.... You all should decide", he said.

Another highlight of the AAP show was the presence of a eunuch who was shared the dais with AAP leaders. “We always supported Rahul Gandhi, but we find that he never gave us anything in all these years. Therefore, our organisation is seriously considering to throw all our weight behind the Aaam Aadmi Party,” said Sonam.

Prominent among others who addressed the rally was well-known journalist Ashutosh , who recently resigned from a top position in IBN-7, to join the party. “I feel it is time that common people should enter politics; and here is this party with a sworn mission to change the politics of the country and to eradicate corruption,” he said amidst cheers.

With inputs from PTI