Vishwas takes on Sonia, Rahul in Amethi amid protests

AAP leader says he will contest LS polls against Cong vice-prez

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi at his maiden rally on the Nehru-Gandhi turf of Amethi amid protests.

Vishwas, who has declared that he will contest against Rahul from Amethi, questioned Sonia’s visit abroad for treatment and also what he alleged as Rahul’s failure to raise any issue pertaining to Amethi in the Lok Sabha. “Despite being a VIP constituency, there is no development in Amethi. There is no power here,” he said.

“It seems Sonia Gandhi has no faith in Indian doctors. How can we trust that her son will be able to run the country,” he said.

He also took a jibe at Rahul for not bothering about the development of Amethi and said that his main issues in the polls would be development, corruption and dynastic rule. “It does not matter whether I win or lose,” he said.

Vishwas also said that eating at a dalit’s house was not important. “What is more important is to make sure that dalits also have food,” he remarked, referring to Rahul’s visits to the homes of Dalits and having food with them. He said that he would go to a Dalit’s house to have food and call a TV crew to cover the same.

The AAP leader said that he was not scared of protests and stone pelting. “I challenge my opponents. Tell me where I have to come and I will go there alone to meet them,” he said.

Vishwas recited couplets and declared that he would henceforth remain in Amethi till the elections are over.

The AAP leader, however, had to face widespread protests on his first visit to Amethi. He was shown black flags by a Muslim group at Jagadishpur in protest against his alleged remarks on Muharram. Muslim groups also raised anti-Vishwas slogans at his rally and hurled stones at a bus ferrying AAP supporters to the venue of the rally. Police had to use mild force to disperse the protesters.

“Vishwas has hurt our religious sentiment. We will hold demonstrations wherever he goes in Amethi and UP,” said a youth, who was among those protesting against Vishwas. The AAP leader, however, termed the protests “sponsored”. “It will only be to our benefit. The more they (Congress) protest, the more will be our victory margin,” Vishwas said.