Rahul 'encouraging secessionist elements' by describing India as Union of States: Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is encouraging secessionist elements by describing India as a Union of States, and that there is no difference between him and insurgent group ULFA.He was speaking at a media conclave by RSS-linked weeklies Panchjanya and Organiser.Responding to Organiser editor Prafulla Ketkars questions about Rahul Gandhi describing India as a Union of States, Sarma said India is culturally one.Identifying India as just a Union of States is tantamount to challenging our 5000-year-old rich civilisation...

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is ''encouraging secessionist elements'' by describing India as a Union of States, and that there is no difference between him and insurgent group ULFA.

He was speaking at a media conclave by RSS-linked weeklies Panchjanya and Organiser.

Responding to Organiser editor Prafulla Ketkar's questions about Rahul Gandhi describing India as a Union of States, Sarma said India is culturally one.

''Identifying India as just a Union of States is tantamount to challenging our 5000-year-old rich civilisation... If India is a Union of States, then it means you are disputing everything India has.

''Now Rahul Gandhi is making people understand this (that India is a Union of States), he is encouraging secessionist elements. Maybe someone from JNU is tutoring him... there is no difference between his language and that of ULFA besides English,'' he said.

Sarma, who switched to the BJP from the Congress in 2015, said the Sonia Gandhi-led party is nothing beyond the Gandhi family.

''In the Congress, there is nothing beyond the Gandhis. In the BJP, we put the nation first. But if you go and tell the Gandhis that India is greater than you, then you will lose your job in the Congress,'' he said.

Sarma advocated learning Hindi besides one's mother tongue as it helps in getting employment in many states of the country.

''One should know and learn his mother tongue. But at the same time one should also learn Hindi so that one doesn't find any difficulty while working in other states,'' he said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)