Rahul Gandhi criticizes BJP's "one leader" concept, emphasizes India's diversity

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday voiced his criticism against the BJP-led government's inclination towards promoting the idea of "one leader in the country."

He described this notion as an "insult" to the diversity and plurality of India.

Drawing an analogy, Rahul Gandhi likened India to a bouquet of flowers, stating, "India is like a bouquet of flowers and each one has to be respected because it promotes the beauty of the entire bouquet."

Expressing his views during an election campaign in Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi highlighted the Congress party's contrasting approach to leadership compared to the BJP. He posed a rhetorical question, asking why India couldn't have multiple leaders, emphasizing that this mindset is where the Congress and BJP differ fundamentally.

While addressing party workers and voters, he conveyed that the Congress aims to embrace the country's diversity by respecting beliefs, languages, religions, and cultures of its people. In contrast, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP tends to impose its views from the top down.

"We did not get freedom from the British to be colonised by the ideology of the RSS. We want India to be ruled by all her people," Rahul Gandhi asserted.

This visit to Wayanad marks Rahul Gandhi's second appearance in the constituency since the announcement of the Lok Sabha election dates. He initiated his campaign by filing nomination papers and conducting a large-scale road show earlier this month.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi secured a substantial victory from Wayanad with a record margin of 4,31,770 votes.

Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha seats are scheduled for polling on April 26.