I am not Savarkar, won't apologise, says Rahul over 'Rape in India' row; Sonia gives call for battle

Rahul, the former Congress president, said, "I am Rahul Gandhi and not Rahul Savarkar. I will not apologise. Narendra Modi and his assistant Amit Shah will apologise because of the way they destroyed economy. Earlier people used to refer to India’s economy. Now people are crying over the price rise of onions."

The row broke out after Rahul, while speaking a rally in Jharkhand, had said, "Narendra Modi used to say Make in India. But it is Rape in India all over. Everyday in newspapers, some news or the other about rape comes out."

"Narendra Modi remains silent when his own MLAs rape women. He said Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (save girls and educate them) but he didn't say from whom to save," he had added.

Several women Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs-led by Smriti Irani- protested against the comment and demanded an apology on the floor of Parliament on Friday minutes before the lower house was adjourned sine die.

As the rally was organised mainly to corner the government over the economic crisis, Rahul brought up the issue of demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Saturday and said, "With demonetisation, Modi hit the Indian economy hard, which has not recovered till date. You were lied to, you were told this is a fight against black money. But, your money was given to Adani-Ambani."

"What was the result of Gabbar Singh Tax - highest unemployment in 45 years, GDP growth rate of 4%, that too after changing the way GDP is measured. As per the previous method, GDP is 2.5%," added the Congress leader.

Giving a call to battle against the current regime, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said, "There comes a time in the life of any person or society or country when you have to decide which side you’re on, today is one such day. We have to fight hard to save the country."

Lashing out at the Modi government which is facing the heat over the slowing down of economy with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) falling to 4.5% in the Q2 of 2019-2020 fiscal year, Sonia said, "The economic crisis has been created due to the wrong policies of the government."

"When I see the condition of my farmer brothers, I feel sorry. Their problems have increased so much that it has become difficult for them to survive," she said and added, "Our labourers toil day in and day out regardless of if it is winter, summer or rains and despite that they do not get two square meals. We have to struggle to change their lives," she added. 

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was present along with her mother and brother on the dais, blamed the Modi government for the economic crisis and said, "Once the world used to talk about our economy but now under the Modi government, economy is crashing, GDP is falling and inflation is getting higher. The Modi government has destroyed economy."

(Images: Congress Twitter)