Won't be intimidated by cult of violence: Congress

Condemning what it said was a "potentially fatal" attack on party Vice President Rahul Gandhi's cavalcade in Gujarat, the Congress on Saturday said it won't be cowed down by the "cult of violence and intimidation espoused by followers of Nathuram Godse".

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the Congress was a 130-year-old party that had seen many ups and downs and its leaders won't be scared by such tactics.

"This stone could kill a human. What was the police doing? Let me say that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress won't be intimidated by such tactics," Sharma said as he showed a piece of rock allegedly hurled at Rahul Gandhi's car in Gujarat on Friday.

"It deserves the strongest condemnation, and exposes the intent, ideology, and character of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which believe in violence, intimidation, and physical assaults on political opponents or leaders.

"It is integral to their thinking and their political philosophy and their actions."

Nathuram Godse, a Hindu Mahasabha member and perceived close to RSS founder Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948.

Sharma said that the BJP was using every possible means to capture power everywhere.

Blaming the state government for lack of proper security, the Congress leader said: "It cannot just wash off its hands by saying a bullet proof car was offered." He said the Congress Vice President had every right to go and stand in solidarity with affected people (by floods).

Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala accused Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani of shielding the goons behind the attack.

"We have lodged a complaint of 'murderous assault' against four BJP workers, but police has not registered an FIR," Surjewala said.

He alleged that Gujarat's BJP government deliberately ignored the protocol followed in the case of the Special Protection Group protectee Rahul Gandhi.

"Let's tell them that Godsewaad did not succeed in 1948, and it won't succeed now. It is Gandhiwaad that has prevailed and will prevail," he said.

On the political conspiracy behind the attack, Surjewala said it has to be examined. "There is an abject failure on the part of Rupani and his administration."

On Friday, Rahul Gandhi faced hostile crowds waving black flags and shouting slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tour of flood-hit Dhanera town in Banaskantha district. His car was pelted with stones, shattering some windowpanes.

--IANS

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