Advani went to Pakistan, praised Jinnah: Rahul Gandhi

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Thursday told crowds here that it was senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani who had spoken in favour of Pakistan's founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah and not Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
'Who says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is weak? It is the BJP that showed signs of weakness. During the Mumbai attacks, we gave a befitting reply to the terror attack,' Rahul Gandhi said, addressing a massive rally here on a scorching afternoon.
'It was L.K. Advani who went to Pakistan and spoke in favour of Jinnah. Our prime minster never went to Pakistan,' he said amid thunderous applause at the Ghantaghar Ramlila Grounds in Ghaziabad, which goes to polls May 7.
He said: 'A real leader is one who can make right decisions at the right time. The BJP bowed to militant pressure and released one of the most dreaded terrorists, Maulana Masood Azhar, who was also behind the Oct 26 Mumbai attack. Jaswant Singh himself escorted the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist in the Kandahar hijack case,' he said.
Ghaziabad, on the outkskirts of the capital city, is an important constituency as BJP president Rajnath Singh is contesting from here. Surendra Prakash Goel, the sitting MP, is the Congress candidate.
Impatient crowds waved at Rahul Gandhi constantly and gave him a rousing welcome as his chopper landed amidst high security.
'How can India shine when the poor man of this country is without food, shelter and employment? India Shining (the BJP catchphrase during the 2004 election) should reach every home of this country,' he said.
Rahul Gandhi said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, during the last five years, worked for the upliftment of the common man of India.
'Real progress and real development is one in which every citizen, whether poor or rich, is developed and progressing. The UPA realised this and worked in the direction of making India a truly successful nation. The actual credit of the country's development goes to farmers,' Rahul Gandhi said.
He also recounted schemes like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, saying these were aimed at making the 'life of an average Indian better'.
Speaking from the dais on a scorching afternoon, Rahul Gandhi also hit back at the BJP for opposing the India-US nuclear deal.
'Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was very determined about the nuclear deal. He told me that he would sign the nuclear deal whether the government goes or remains,' Rahul said, during his 25 minute speech.
The country is still struggling with power, water and infrastructure, which are key to development. He referred to Delhi's Congress administration, saying it was the 'government of development, education and far-sightedness'.