Ashok Gehlot: 'BJP & RSS should apologise before taking Gandhi's name'

The Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said that it is a victory for the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Party that the BJP and RSS leaders today are taking Gandhi's name. "What was their thinking 75 years back? Did they ever take names of Gandhi, Patel or Ambedkar? I believe it is a victory for the ideology of Gandhi and Congress that RSS-BJP today have to take manes of our leaders. It is a victory of our policies, programs, and beliefs," Ashok Gehlot said. The Chief Minister was addressing a convention of the Rajasthan Congress on the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The Rajasthan CM also said that people must not merely take Gandhi's name and should clarify their thoughts. "I would like to tell these people that mere speaking about him will not work. They should clarify what is in their hearts and minds," he added.

'BJP and RSS should apologise'

Ashok Gehlot also said that the BJP and RSS should apologise for not recognising Mahatma Gandhi before the independence. "If they feel they committed a mistake that they did not identify Gandhi before Independence, acted as informants of Britishers and entrapped freedom fighters, did not participate in the freedom struggle, then they must apologise to the country before taking Gandhi's name."

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Gehlot attacks BJP

Ashok Gehlot also attacked the BJP on Tuesday, when he was addressing a gathering at the Aditya Birla Auditorium. "Today, democracy is in danger. There are communal forces in the country that do politics in the name of religion. They need to be stopped. They (BJP) do politics hiding behind the Army," he said.

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Sonia Gandhi slams Centre

Congress President Sonia Gandhi also slammed the Government while addressing a gathering of Congress workers at Rajghat after a padayatra led by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday and said, "India has Gandhi's principles as its foundation. The India we have seen in the last five years will shake Gandhi's idea of India. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi is easy but it is tough to follow his path. Those who are trying to use his name but are taking India astray from his teachings, will not succeed."

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(With inputs from ANI)