Date:28/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/28/stories/2008112857180500.htm

Other States - Rajasthan

An attack on every Indian: Rahul

Special Correspondent

“People will defeat the nefarious designs of terrorists to divide the country”

- PHOTO: PTI

‘We shall overcome’: Rahul Gandhi waves at supporters during an election rally at Chaksu village near Jaipur on Thursday.

CHAKSU (JAIPUR): Keeping politics aside during his first election campaign tour of Rajasthan, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday described the terror strikes in Mumbai as “an attack on every Indian” and affirmed that the people would defeat the nefarious designs of elements out to intimidate and divide the country.

Addressing an election meeting in this small tehsil town 40 km from the State Capital, Mr. Gandhi said the Mumbai terror attacks would not scare or divide the people of the country: “Nobody can stop India from marching ahead. The poor people of our country will surely make progress.”

“However hard they (terrorists) try to frighten us or drive a wedge in our society, we will not be cowed,” said Mr. Gandhi. Though the terrorists wanted the people to stop their routine out of fear, people would fight back these elements, he added while addressing the huge meeting at the Shah Jalaluddin Bukhari’s dargah grounds.

In another election meeting at Kishangarh in Ajmer district, Mr. Gandhi said the terror strikes were “not just an attack on Mumbai, but an attack on every part of India, attack on every Indian”. He said the terrorists did not have an understanding of India’s inherent strength.

The Congress leader said he was asked this morning to call off his election campaign in Rajasthan as a mark of respect to those killed, “but I realised that the real respect for them would be to come out.” Thousands of people, led by Mr. Gandhi, observed silence at the meeting to pay homage to the victims of terror attacks. Mr. Gandhi also addressed election meetings at Jayal in Nagaur district and Gangapur in Sawai Madhopur district during the day.

Pradesh Congress Committee president C.P. Joshi, Dausa MP Sachin Pilot and the Congress candidate from Chaksu, Vedprakash Solanki, also addressed the meeting. Mr. Gandhi promised that he would touch political issues during his next trip to the State in a few days before the Assembly elections.