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Rahul Gandhi in US: 'Lost my father, grandmother to violence, if I don't understand violence then who will'

While speaking at the University of California, Berkeley, Rahul said decision like demonetization was taken without asking Chief Economic Advisor and Parliament has caused tremendous damage to the economy.

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Vikas Mehta
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Rahul Gandhi in US: 'Lost my father, grandmother to violence, if I don't understand violence then who will'

Rahul Gandhi in US: Politics of polarisation is dangerous and idea of non-violence is under attack

In a veiled attack on BJP government, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said politics of polarisation is dangerous and idea of non-violence is under attack.

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While speaking at the University of California, Berkeley, Rahul said decision like demonetization was taken without asking Chief Economic Advisor and Parliament has caused tremendous damage to the economy.

He took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on RTI, saying that the latter has clamped down on RTI. 

Sharing his thoughts on 1984 Sikh riots, the Congress vice president said he extend his support to the victims in their quest for justice, He said he strongly condemned violence against anyone.

“I lost my father, my grandmother to violence, if I don't understand violence then who will,” Rahul said.

Recalling his grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's statement on whether India will switch "Left or Right', Rahul said Indira Gandhi replied that it will stand straight and tall. 

Rahul Gandhi said his party decides policy and vision through conversations and not by imposition. 

Admitting that arrogance crept party around 2012, the Congress vice-president said that they have stopped converstion with the people. 

"Arrogance crept into Congress party and we stopped having conversations with people," he said. 

Reacting on dynasty politics, Rahul said most of the nations have similar paradigm. He cited example of Akhilesh Yadav, MK stalin and PK Dhumal's son Anurag Thakur. He said Abhishek Bachchan and Ambani are also dynast. 

"Most of the country runs like this, so don't go after me,  Akhilesh Yadav a dynast, Mr Stalin a dynast,Mr Dhumal's son a dynast," he said.

When asked about being a reluctant politician, he said that there are 1000 people sitting at computer machines spreading abuse about him and it is all done at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Speaking on terrorism, Rahul said," When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir, when we finished there was peace, we had broken the back of terrorism." 

Rahul said he had embraced former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the achievement as his government had broken the back of terror in 2013. 

He hailed PDP for bringing youngsters in politics, but added that the day BJP made alliance with party, it destroyed the party. 

Rahul attacked Modi, saying the latter has massively opened up space for the terrorists in Kashmir, and violence has increased in the valley. 

On contrary, the Congress vice-president heaped praise on Modi for his better communication skills. 

"Modi has certain skills,he is a very good communicator,much better than me," he said. He further added, " He knows how to give a message to 3-4 different groups in a crowd, so his messaging ability is very effective and subtle."

Rahul said that people in BJP told him that he does not talk with people who are working with him, even BJP lawmakers. 

rahul gandhi University of California Berkley