'Modi opened up space for terrorists in Kashmir': Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi also stated that for nine years, he worked with Manmohan Singh on issue of Kashmir

Vice President Congress Rahul Gandhi openly criticised PM Modi, on Tuesday, for demonetisation and the hastily implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, saying both caused “tremendous damage to the Indian economy”, reported Hindustan Times.

Rahul also stated that Modi has ‘destroyed’ the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kashmir after its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and “massively opened up space for terrorists.” Rahul, who is on a two-week visit to the US to interact with political leaders, global thinkers and overseas Indians, spoke on the political environment of India, the Congress party, and the effects of demonestisation.



“The government’s economic policy of demonetisation and the hastily implemented GST has caused tremendous pressure on the economy,” Rahul said while addressing students of the University of California in Berkeley on India at 70: Reflections on the Path Forward. India’s first PM and Rahul’s great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru had once delivered a historic speech at the same university.

Rahul also said the government’s decision to scrap INR500 and INR1,000 currency notes has led to the decline in economic growth. “It cost us 2% loss in GDP (gross domestic product),” he said. “Decisions like demonetisation which removed 86% of cash from circulation were done unilaterally, without asking the chief economic adviser or the cabinet or even Parliament, it (demonetisation) caused tremendous damage,” he said.

Accusing Modi for opening the space for terrorism in Indian-occupied Kashmir, the Congress leader said: “When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir. And when we finished by 2013, we basically broke the back of terror, I hugged (then) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and told him it was one of the biggest achievements.”

He also referred to the role of PDP which is in power with the BJP as its alliance partner in the state, and said, “PDP was instrumental in bringing youngsters in politics, but the day Modi made alliance with PDP, he destroyed them (PDP).”



“So he (Modi) massively opened up space for the terrorists in Kashmir, and you saw the increase in violence,” he added. Rahul also stated that for nine years, he worked with Manmohan Singh and his ministers on the issue of Kashmir.

Slamming the BJP-led central government for the incidents of mob lynching and cow vigilantism that unleashed violence, Rahul said, “I understand what violence does, violence against anybody is wrong.” “Hatred, anger and violence can destroy us, the politics of polarisation is dangerous,” he said, adding that liberal journalists were being shot (referring to Kannada journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh’s murder), people are being lynched.

“These incidents are making millions feel that they have no future in their country,” Rahul added. He also said that the “idea of non-violence or ‘ahimsa’ is what has allowed this mass of people (India) to rise together and it is the only idea which can take humanity forward”.

“I lost my father, my grandmother to violence, if I don’t understand violence then who will?” he asked referring to the the assassination of his grandmother Indira Gandhi and his father Rajiv Gandhi. Asked about dynastic politics, Rahul said, “Most of the country runs like this. That’s how India works.”

“Dynastic politics is a problem in all political parties. Akhilesh (Yadav, son of Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party), MK Stalin (son of M Karunanidhi of DMK), Abhishek Bachchan (son of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan) - are all examples of dynastic legacy, also (Mukesh and Anil) Ambani (son of Dhirubhai Ambani), that’s how the entire country is running.”

“Even (Prem Kumar) Dhumal’s son (Anurag Thakur) is a dynast, so don’t go just after me,” Rahul said at the event. The Congress leader also spoke about the reason for his party’s decline. “Around 2012, arrogance crept into the Congress party and we stopped having conversations with people,” Gandhi said.



The Congress leader also spoke about why it is extremely important to create jobs in India. Taking a jibe at the Modi government as well as at China, he said: “The core constituency of right wing leaders are those who cannot get a job.” “Unlike China, India has to create jobs in a democratic environment. But India doesn’t want or need China’s coercive model,” he added.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who was present in the audience during Rahul’s speech tweeted: “A speech marked by acuity and passion, and a discussion infused with candour and insight.”