New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday addressed the Indian diaspora in the US and slammed the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for trying to stop his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. Speaking at the 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' event in San Francisco, he said that the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', which began from Kanyakumari on September 7 last year and passed through 12 states before culminating in Jammu and Kashmir in January, carried the 'spirit of affection, respect and humility'. The former Congress president said that before starting his foot march, he realised that the normal tools that have historically been used in politics were 'not working anymore'. He also alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is 'threatening' people and 'misusing' government agencies.
"The Bharat Jodo Yatra started because all the instruments that we needed to connect with the people were controlled by the BJP-RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)," Rahul Gandhi, who is on a week-long touto the US, said.
If one studies history, it can be seen that all spiritual leaders, including Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Basavanna and Narayana Guru, united the nation in a similar way, he added.
The Congress leader also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he thinks that 'he knows everything'.
"I think if you sat Modi Ji down next to God, Modi Ji will start explaining to God how Universe works," he said.
Gandhi said India is not what is being shown in the media which likes to promote a political narrative that is far from reality, asserting that there is a 'huge distortion'.
He also thanked the Indian diaspora for 'holding up the Tricolour' in the US and showing Americans what it means to be an Indian.
Rahul Gandhi is on a three-city US tour
Rahul Gandhi arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday for a three-city US tour during which he will also meet American lawmakers. He was received at the airport by Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda and other members of the IOC.
He is also scheduled to interact with students at the prestigious Stanford University and have meetings with think tanks in Washington DC.
The 52-year-old is also likely to address Indian Americans and interact with Wall Street executives and university students during his week-long tour of the US. He is slated to conclude his trip with a public gathering in New York on June 4. The interaction would take place at the Javits Center in New York.
