Delhi polls: BJP wants to divide people along sectarian lines, says Rahul

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of dividing people along sectarian lines for the benefit of corporates and of not fulfilling promises made prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party wants to divide Hindus and Muslims and wants the poor to fight amongst themselves. That is their strategy so that a few corporates can benefit. Ever since they have come to power, India has not progressed, the employment rate has not increased, but the corporates have been getting business," Rahul said, while addressing a rally in Seelampur, ahead of the legislative assembly polls in Delhi.

Mocking the Prime Minister's promises and initiatives, the Gandhi scion further referred to his party as the 'poor man's party'.

"The Prime Minister promised to distribute Rs 15 lakhs to each household when he got the black money back into the country. You have not got the money, but Prime Minister Modi is wearing a Rs 10 lakh suit. You wanted employment, you wanted the government to curb inflation, and he has given you a broom to clean up with," Rahul said, referring to the Prime Minister's garb at the Republic Day celebrations and his Swachh Bharat initiative.

"The Congress party is not weakened - it is the poor man's party and we will stand by those who are poor. We will provide every poor person with the right to shelter. We want everyone to be part of Delhi's progress. Delhi is the capital and is everyone's city. If we have to take Delhi forward, we'll have to take everyone forward," he added.

Rahul further accused the Aam Aadmi Party of being hand in glove with the BJP, pointing towards the large number of AAP leaders who have defected to the latter.

"The AAP only has one goal; to not let the Congress come to power. When the UPA was in power, Arvind Kejriwal started protests on every topic but now he doesn't protest at all," he said.

"When the UPA ruled, Arvind Kejriwal raised the issues of rape and corruption and held protests. Now when there is an NDA government, rape cases in Delhi have increased by 30 percent but Kejriwal has not held any protest. Also, Everyone who leaves the AAP goes to the BJP," he added.

Voting for the 70-member Delhi assembly will be held on February 7 and counting will take place on February 10. A total of 673 candidates are in the fray.