Rahul Gandhi questions PM Narendra Modi's understanding of northeastern states

KOLKATA: Congress vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched broadside attack on the RSS and BJP and said that the RSS is suppressing the voices of Indian youth be it in Hyderabad or Lucknow or in Assam. He questioned the understanding of Prime minister Narendra Modi by bringing the reference of peace deal agreement entered by Centre with militant outfit, NSCN-IM last year. He said even Union Home minister Rajnath Singh did not know the contains of the Naga accord.

Rahul who is on two day visit to Assam on Tuesday participated in roadshow in the tea and oil rich Upper Assam district of Sivsagar. Rahul walked around 6 km from the Ahom era's amphitheater of Rangghar to Darbar field intermingling with crowds

On way he entered a local Madrassa and interacted with students there and he offered prayers at the historic Shiva Dol (Shrine). He also offered floral tribute to the statue of Bir Lachit Bor Phukan, the great Ahom general who had fought the mughals invaders.

Rahul said, "The way reporters are killed across the country is not good. RSS people are being appointed as vice chancellors in universities and reputed institutes. They are trying to suppress the voice of the youth of the country — be it in the JNU, in Hyderabad, Lucknow and other places,"

Sharing an instance of August last year, Rahul said one day Modi called Congress president Sonia Gandhi. This was probably the first call of Modi to Sonia after he won Lok Sabha elections. "Modi told Sonia that he has done something that congress could not do in 40 years. He said he signed the Naga accord. Sonia Gandhi was surprised for she knows this involves complex issues of land of neighbouring states like Assam, Arunachal and Manipur."

Rahul detailed, "She asked me to call up respective Chief Minister and I called them up. All the Chief Ministers pleaded ignorance. When we contacted the Nagaland Chief Minister he also said that he does not know anything. Later I contacted Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who said he does not have details of the deal. See the state of affair, Prime minister's words must have importance."

Centre and NSCN-IM inked framework agreement, the details of which are yet to made public. Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh were demanding to make the details public. Greater Nagalim which involves craving out Naga dominated areas from three Northeastern states - Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh - was core demand of NSCN-IM.

Rahul attacked Modi and said that he has failed to fulfill his promise. "Modi promised to arrest the price rise, however, pulses are Rs 200 per kg." Its election time, he will now give some new lofty promises and then forget them after the elections,” said Gandhi.

Highlighting the achievements of the Tarun Gogoi government in Assam, he said peace has returned to Assam in last 15 years.