BJP government muzzling voice of poor: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the Narendra Modi government of muzzling the voice of the poor, tribals and the underprivileged.

"Tribals from Bastar and other areas of Chhattisgarh came to see me. They told me they are being oppressed and their voice muzzled by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government," Gandhi told reporters after meeting a delegation of tribals and Congress legislators from Bastar area of Chhattisgarh at his residence.

"You suppressed Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad; here, our students and (JNU student leader) Kanhaiya Kumar is being threatened. Wherever the poor, Dalits, farmers, small-time traders are asking for their rights, the National Democratic Alliance government is crushing their voice," the Congress leader added.

"These poor people are the real strength of the country. They are, in fact, driving it. If anyone breaks law, action must be taken against him, but threatening the poor and repressing their voice will not do any good to anyone," the Congress vice president said.

"Modi ji made a personal attack on me in parliament. Everyday, his partymen also make personal attacks on me. I don't care but please don't attack the poor and the underprivileged," he added.