Rahul slams opposition's hate politics

Srinagar: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said in an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) practises "politics of division and anger".

Speaking at a rally in Anantnag he contrasted it with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) saying it stands for "love, friendship and future".

"I have not come here today as a politician, but as a young man who extends his hand of friendship to the youth of Kashmir. Your vote this time is not for the National Conference or the People's Democratic Party. It is for the UPA or the NDA," Rahul said.

"You have to choose whether you want Manmohan Singh to be the next prime minister of the country or [L.K.] Advani. The choice is clear," he said.

Rahul also said that the state had witnessed a surge in development works during the UPA rule.

"I saw your railway line today. It happened during the UPA rule. Srinagar airport is now an international airport and this all has happened during the UPA rule.

"The UPA wants to carry everybody along on the road to progress while the NDA believes in selective progress of some states of the country," Rahul told a gathering of nearly 6,000 people. Rahul said his grandmother, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, had a special relationship with Kashmir.

"I have come here as a young boy with my grandmother. She had a special place for Kashmir in her heart. Pandit [Jawaharlal] Nehru and Shaikh Abdullah were close friends and now I have come here to renew and continue that friendship with your young and dynamic leader Omar Abdullah."