Gandhi family divided Pak, says Rahul

Pak says the statement proves Indira Gandhi interfered in its affairs; Oppn too up in arms.

The Gandhi family figured once again in Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's campaign for the UP elections when he claimed that it was his family which was instrumental in dividing Pakistan in 1971.

He also said that his family took India into the 21st century, in a reference to the unique selling point that his grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi have always been credited with.

"You know, when our (Gandhi) family commits to a task, it also completes it. In the past too, members of the Gandhi family have achieved the goals they have initiated like the freedom of the country, dividing Pakistan into two and leading the nation to the 21st century," he told a public meeting in Bareilly.

The comments came days after his oblique criticism of former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao in a speech in which he said that the Babri Masjid demolition would not have taken place had a Gandhi been in power. Later, he clarified that he had not meant to be critical of the former prime minister and described him as a sanyasi in politics.

Pakistan immediately reacted to his today's remark as India has always maintained it had no role in dividing East and West Pakistan into Pakistan and Bangladesh.

This proved allegations that "India interfered in Pakistan's affairs and tried to destabilise it. This is a clear admission of it," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told a TV channel.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar said the comments reflected the Gandhi family's dynastic mentality. "If you are taking credit for Bangladesh, you will also have to take the blame for India's partition. You can't forget this. Everyone from Bose to Savarkar fought against the British, but to just give credit to one family only shows dynastic politics," he said.

But the Congress came out in Gandhi's support. "Bangladesh was formed only after the division of Pakistan. Even Vajpayeeji had praised Indira Gandhi at the time and called her Durga. It is a truth from history and this is what Rahul has repeated. Every political party highlights what they have done," said Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi.

The strongest defence of Gandhi came from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "Rahul Gandhi is your future. He is sweating it out for you. Only one chance is needed to make this state a new Uttar Pradesh," Singh told an election rally, his first during the current Assembly polls.

"Let's make a new Uttar Pradesh, just like (late prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi dreamt of making a new India 20 years ago," he said, seeking votes for the Congress ahead of the third phase of polls scheduled for April 18.

Noting that the state had undergone a sea change during the past 15 years, Singh said the non-Congress governments had only shed blood "in the name of temples and mosques", shattering the peace and tranquillity of Uttar Pradesh.

"Youths did not get jobs and there was no peace and prosperity during these 15 years," he said.

Pointing out that unemployment was rising in Uttar Pradesh, he took a dig at the ruling Samajwadi Party saying the unemployment allowance it offered was not the answer. "Youths don't need unemployment allowance. They need jobs," he said.

The leaders of the non-Congress governments were only hankering for power. "They only ruled for themselves and their family members. This has resulted in poverty, unemployment, misery to farmers and a deteriorating law and order situation," he said.

"The crime graph is shooting up and mafia dons and goondas are thriving," he said.

Both Gandhi and Singh's speeches are unlikely to cut much ice with the electorate, though they will have the effect of charging up the Opposition and some Congress allies. This matter is sure to be the subject of digs the Opposition will take at the Congress in the forthcoming session of Parliament beginning next week.