Rahul Gandhi criticises PM Modi's economic policies; says politics of polarisation has raised its ugly head

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic policies, accusing him of causing "tremendous damage" to India's economy with "reckless and dangerous" decisions like demonetisation and"hastily-applied" GST.

Gandhi, 47, who arrived in the US yesterday on a two- week-long tour, addressed students at the University of California, Berkeley, to reflect on contemporary India and the path forward for the world's largest democracy.

He said the November 8  demonetisation decision was taken without asking the Chief Economic Advisor and Parliament, which caused tremendous damage to the economy.

Demonetisation, he alleged, imposed a devastating cost  on  India.

"Ignoring India's tremendous institutional knowledge and taking such decisions is reckless and dangerous," he charged.

Gandhi is on his two-week visit to the US during which he will interact with global thinkers and political leaders, and address overseas Indians as part of an outreach initiative by his party.

In Washington DC, the Congress vice president is scheduled to interact with members of the think-tank community, political leaders, and government officials.

Gandhi is also scheduled to travel to Princeton University before his final address to overseas Indians in New York. 

Key highlights

Rahul Gandhi in UC Berkeley

► The Idea of non-violence is under attack today, yet it is the only idea which can take humanity forward. The idea of non-violence or ahimsa is what has allowed this mass of people (India) to rise together. As Indira Gandhi was asked whether India will switch 'Left or Right'.  She said it will stand straight and tall.

► Hatred, anger, and violence can destroy us, the politics of polarization is very dangerous

► There is no democratic country in history which has raised so many people out of poverty as India

► Small and medium entrepreneurs are the bedrock of India's economic progress

► Decisions like Demonetisation took without asking Chief Economic Advisor and Parliament caused tremendous damage. Demonetisation has led to decline  in economic growth

► I am with them in their quest for justice, violence again anybody I strongly condemn: Gandhi on Sikh riots

► I lost my father, my grandmother to violence if I don't understand violence then who will?

► In 2012, a certain arrogance crept into the party and we stopped having a conversation. Rebuilding the party, we need to design a vision that we can use moving forward.

► I am absolutely ready for that, but our party works according to organizational elections

► Modi clamped down on RTI. He shut it down. We got in trouble as we dramatically increased transparency

► There's a BJP machine..about a 1000 guys on computers tell you about me that I am reluctant, stupid.  All they do is spread abuse about me and the operation is run by the gentleman who is running our country.

► For 9 years I worked behind the scenes with PM Manmohan Singh,P Chidambaram,Jairam Ramesh and others on J&K

► When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir, when we finished there was peace, we had broken the back of terrorism. By 2013, we basically broke the back of terror, I hugged PM Manmohan Singh and told him it was one of the biggest achievements.

► Modi has certain skills, he is a very good communicator, much better than me. He knows how to give a message to 3-4 different groups in a crowd, so his messaging ability is very effective and subtle. What I sense is he doesn't converse with people he works with, even members of Parliament and BJP tell me that.