Threat to Mahatma Gandhi's concept of India: Sonia Gandhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday said some people were trying to harm Mahatma Gandhi's concept of India and were hell bent on dividing the people and society.

"We have to fulfill the dream of Mahatma Gandhi. Some people are trying to harm his concept of India," Gandhi said at a public rally after laying the foundation stone of the Aligarh Muslim University off-campus branch in Bihar's Kishanganj, about 400 km from Patna.

Without naming Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Gandhi said those against the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi were hell bent on dividing the people and society.

"These people's only aim is to grab power," she said

The Congress chief said India was passing through a difficult phase.

"Congress stands for secularism and for all. We respect and have faith in pluralism. We work for all, whether Dalits, minorities, women and weaker sections. Our goal is inclusive development," she said.

She said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has given the Right to Information Act, Food Security Bill, MNREGA for jobs and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan to ensure education for all.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also attended the foundation stone laying ceremony in Kishanganj, after an angry outburst over not being invited.

An official in the Chief Minister's Office said Nitish Kumar decided to attend the function after receiving an invitation from Human Resource Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju.

Congress leaders said Nitish Kumar made a hue and cry over not being invited to gain political mileage out of the inauguration of the centre.