Rahul Gandhi takes Modi head-on in California

Speaking to political experts in the University of California, Berkeley,Rahul Gandhi was most collected in his answers and while being self-critical, he at the same time delivered strong opinions about the failure of the BJP. He accused Modi of promoting divisive politics, creating space for terrorism in Kashmir by joining hands with the PDP, and ruining the economy through demonetisation and a hastily-implemented GST.

“Demonetisation a completely self inflicted wound”

Rahul Gandhi called the act of banning 86% of Indian currency overnight a unilateral decision of the Prime Minister without any consultation with the economic adviser or the Parliament, a completely self-inflicted wound.

Dynasty is normal in India

“Most parties in India have that problem (dynastic politics). So, don’t give us the stick, because Akhilesh Yadav is a dynast. Stalin is a dynast. (Prem Kumar) Dhumal’s son is a dynast.Even Abhishek Bachchan is a dynast. That is how India runs.

Hate politics of BJP is hurting India

Rahul said the idea of non-violence is under attack in India today. “Hatred, anger and violence and the politics of polarisation has raised its ugly head in India today. Violence and hatred distract people from the task at hand.

Liberal journalists being shot

Liberal journalists are being shot, people being lynched because they are Dalits, Muslims, killed on suspicion of eating beef, this is new in India and damages India very badly. The politics of hate divides and polarises India, making millions of people feel that they have no future in their own country. In today’s connected world, this is extremely dangerous. It isolates people and makes them vulnerable to radical ideas”.

Speaks on BJP’s cyber cell

“There is a BJP machine, about a thousand guys sitting on computers… they basically tell you about me. They tell you I am reluctant, I am stupid… They tell you all these things… And all they do is spread abuse about me. And the operation is basically run by the gentleman who is running our country.”

He also most importantly admitted to the failure of the Congress which he said became “arrogant and stopped having conversations with people” that led to the 2014 failure in elections.