Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the right wing Hindu nationalist organisation, of dividing the nation and encouraging a rift between Hindus and Muslims.
Speaking on the 98th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Rahul said: "In 1947 during the time of partition, there was violence and riots between Hindus and Muslims. It was Indira Gandhi who tried to end the rift between Hindus and Muslims. She went to Muslims and Hindus and tried to resolve the dispute. The people who were killing each other, they were not many but few people who gave a bad name to both the community. That was the RSS. That was the fanatical organisations on both sides, SIMI and RSS. They are giving bad name to all of us."
Rahul Gandhi further said that the India's first female Prime minister gave an identity to the grand old party and believed in bringing the people together.
"Our job is to bring people together. The people who respect each other and believe in each other. That is what Indira Gandhi believed in. Indira Gandhi gave identity to congress. She believed in protecting the poor. She believed in protecting those who struggle everyday," he said.
"Indiraji challenged a mob of 200 men to hit her while they were beating a man. The mob was silenced and they backed off. This is Congress party," he added.
Rahul Gandhi also dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order an investigation against him instead of baseless accusations.
"They should throw me in the jail if they find anything against me. I am not scared, I will keep fighting for the weak. Modiji is the PM, he has all agencies at his disposal. They accuse me of so many things, why not order an investigation?" Rahul said.