RSS suppressing voice of Indian youth: Rahul (Lead, Changing dateline)

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched another scathing attack on the RSS, saying it was suppressing the voice of Indian youth across the country.

Gandhi, who arrived in Assam on Monday and addressed three meetings at Gohpur, Bihpuria and Titabor, on Tuesday took part at a road show in tea-rich Sivasagar district.

He walked six km from the historic Ahom-era Rangghar to the Darbar field, interacting with hundreds of Congress workers, as thousands of onlookers gathered on the roadsides to get a glimpse of the leader.

"The way reporters are being killed across the country is not good. RSS people are being appointed as vice chancellors in universities and reputed institutes.

"They are trying to suppress the voice of the youth -- be it in JNU, in Hyderabad, Lucknow and other places," Gandhi told the media after addressing a public rally at the end of the road show.

He slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has failed to fulfill his promises.

"He (Modi) promised to contain price rise of essential commodities when he came here before the Lok Sabha polls. However, the price of pulses has soared up to Rs.200 now. He assured to give Rs.15 lakh to each of the Indians in the country. Rs.15 lakh did not come to the Indians but only suits worth Rs.15 lakh came for Modi ji," Gandhi said in his address at the rally.

"He came to Assam before the Lok Sabha polls and promised so many things but never fulfilled them. His objective was to get votes and he got it.

"If he comes to Assam now, he will not speak about price rise or about the issues of farmers in Assam. He will now make some new lofty promises and then forget them after the elections," the Congress leader said.

Gandhi said when Modi signed the Naga peace accord, he kept the chief ministers of the northeastern states, including Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, and even Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the dark.

Gandhi highlighted the development works undertaken by the Congress government led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in the last 15 years.

"Fifteen years back, there were disturbances here. There was bloodshed and sorrow. Peace came to Assam because the Assam government led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and the people of Assam fought against violence, anger and hardship," he said.