Why should governors interfere in Opposition-ruled states, asks Rahul Gandhi

Slamming the Centre over pending GST returns to states, Rahul Gandhi said: “What right do they have not to pay the states’ GST on time? This is your money and you should be given this money at the right time.”

Rahul Gandhi today questioned why governors of states should have the right to interfere in the running of the states. “Why should governors have the right to interfere in opposition-ruled states? Are they elected by the people of the state? Have the people of the state placed the governor in his position? No. What rights do these people have - the BJP and the RSS - to topple government after government after government which has been elected by the people of India?” the Congress MP asked.

He also spoke about centre-state relations and slammed the central government on GST, unemployment and price rises.

“Today, while we were walking in the crowd, it felt like a large river was flowing. I was watching this river of humanity carefully. There is no hatred, anger in this river. This river was humble and respectful of everybody in it. It is the same India in this river, which is flowing,” Gandhi said.

“There are some people and organisations that want to disturb this river. They want to mix hatred, violence, anger in this river. They want to create disturbance in the river and that is why we have started the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. We will not let these people spread hatred, spread anger, spread violence in this beautiful river called India and we will not allow them to disrespect any state, any language and any idea,” he added.

Slamming the Centre over pending GST returns to states, Gandhi said: “What right do they have not to pay the states’ GST on time? This is your money and you should be given this money at the right time.”

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“The states and the Centre should be partners - the national government should work in partnership with the state governments. The national government should respect all the cultures of the country, all the languages of the country. The BJP wants to impose one language and one culture on the entire nation. We want unity, but we also respect diversity. We do not want uniformity. Every state, every culture, every language has its place in this beautiful country and that place should be respected,” he said.