Congress will defeat BJP in Gujarat as it did in Ayodhya: Rahul Gandhi

Ahmedabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that his party will defeat Narendra Modi and the BJP in Gujarat just like it did in Ayodhya in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing workers at the party headquarters in Ahmedabad, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the Congress will "break their government like they broke our office".

He was referring to a clash on July 3 when the Congress party office was vandalised by Bajrang Dal activists. The BJP and the Bajrang Dal were demanding Rahul's apology for his speech in Parliament where he said that those who call themselves Hindus are spreading hatred and violence.

Subsequently, Rahul was invited by Gujarat party chief Shaktisinh Gohil to meet the Congress workers.

Rahul claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Ayodhya (part of Faizabad LS seat) but "surveyors predicted that he would lose and his political career would end".

Referring to the PM's speeches during the elections, Rahul said, "He said he has a direct connection with God... then why did the BJP lose in Ayodhya?"

The Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc defeated a movement started by LK Advani whose epicentre was Ayodhya. "Congress and Samajwadi Party workers fought like lions and defeated them," Rahul said, adding that the "balloon of Modi's vision has burst".

He said a new Congress will emerge from Gujarat. "Our biggest leader showed us the path. Mahatma Gandhi told the country not to be scared. Therefore, when they broke our office, I thought it was an opportunity to teach them (BJP) a lesson that the way they broke our office, we will break their government."

Rahul claimed that the Congress workers are not scared of expressing their views. "The BJP leaders don't like Narendra Modi, but they don't have the guts to say that as they are scared."

The Congress leader also met the families of the victims of the Morbi bridge collapse and the Rajkot gaming zone fire.