Rahul Gandhi says only Congress can protect Constitution, attacks Centre on note-ban, GST at Maharashtra ralllies

Rahul Gandhi sought to draw a parallel between Birsa Munda and Savarkar, and said the tribal icon stood steadfast for his ideals

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) keeps attacking the Constitution every day as it does not want to accept that Dalits, tribals and the poor should get rights, and hit out at Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar for "working" for the British.

Mr. Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its 69th day and reached Washim district in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra from Hingoli on Tuesday, said it is only the Congress that can protect the Constitution, give education to tribals and safeguard their land and rights.

The Lok Sabha MP from Kerala addressed two rallies during the day and stepped up his attack on the BJP over a range of issues — from the Constitution, to 2016 note-ban, to Goods and Service Tax (GST) to farm loans.

The first public meeting, addressed by him in the afternoon, was organised on the occasion of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda's birth anniversary, which is also celebrated as the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas or Tribal Pride Day. The rally was attended by tribal community members.

At the meeting, Mr. Gandhi sought to draw a parallel between Birsa Munda and Savarkar, and said the tribal icon stood steadfast for his ideals.

“He [Munda] did not step even an inch back. He was killed and martyred. It is your [tribals] symbol and shows you the path. The BJP-RSS symbol is Savarkar. He was jailed in Andaman for two-three years. He started writing mercy petitions,” he said.

Mr. Gandhi claimed Savarkar wrote a book on himself with a different name and highlighted how brave he was.