Live reporting: Rahul Gandhi quotes Sardar Patel to lash out at RSS in Dharamshala rally

Dharamshala (HP): Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today lashed out at the BJP saying that it was following the ideology of RSS, about which Sardar Patel once said, that it had a poisonous thinking about India. Addressing a well-attended election rally at the police ground here, Rahul Gandhi said, the same people who spent their entire lives in RSS are now today erecting the statue of Sardar Patel. The Gandhi scion said, BJP leaders not only make false claims, but they also stall important bills meant for the poor in Parliament. Trying to rev up the morale of party workers, Rahul Gandhi said, in 2004, the BJP spoke about India Shining, but the voters pressed the button in favour of the Hand symbol. "In 2009, we won because of Right to Work and we waived off thousands of crores of farmers' debts. This time also, we shall win."Rahul Gandhi reminded voters that it was the Congress government which gave one rank, one pension to lakhs of ex-servicemen. He also reminded women in the audience that it was he who pressed the PM for 12 LPG cylinders a year at subsidized price, and it was approved. "My efforts for helping women won't stop at 12 LPG cylinders. I want to give reservation to women in assemblies and Parliament. I want to see 50 pc women in Parliament and in ministries", he added.Here are the live updates for Rahul Gandhi's rally: 2:45 pm: Rahul Gandhi ends speech2:44 pm: Rahul: We are going to win the elections with your love and affection.2:43 pm: Rahul: In 2004, they spoke of India Shining, but voters pressed the button for Hand symbol. In 2009 too, we won because we condoned farmers' debts, gave the Right to Work. That's why they are stalling Parliament. Congress is a party of weaker sections, of women, of minorities, of tribals, and of youths. We work for all sections. 2:40 pm: Rahul: The biggest step towards eradicating corruption was the Right to Information, which we gave you. We gave you the Lokpal Bill also. These are the rights that we have given you. Today any man can write to the RTI to find out what Rahul Gandhi told the PM. We want to give you more power, through Panchayati Raj. BJP leaders six strong bills against corruption in Parliament. We brought the Land Acquisition Bill to give you the right price for your land. These Opposition leaders stalled this bill too at every step. 2:37 pm: Rahul: I want to speak to the women. You demanded 12 LPG cylinders a year. I put this before the PM. It took two minutes for him to accept. The truth is that only 12 LPG cylinders wont do. I want to see 50 pc women in ministers, assemblies and Parliament. I want more and more women in power. Opposition leaders stalled the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament. I asked some of the opposition leaders why they are stalling it. They said, if women get reservation, their seats will get reserved. These leaders are keeping you out. And I promise you, Congress party will give you reservation in Parliament, in Congress party. Similarly, we will give reservation to youths in Congress.2:36 pm: Rahul: We will change the higher education system, and provide more and more people, to your children, university education. Jobs will come from manufacturing. We are creating special industrial freight corridors to connect the big metros, and this will give jobs to crores of people. The watches that you are wearing from China, will now be made in India.2:34 pm: Rahul: The Congress government lifted 15 crore people above poverty line, condoned Rs 70,000 crore debts of farmers. Our government gave you the rights for tribals, right to information. Even the Opposition leaders admit the UPA government has worked for the poor. Now, those who are above poverty level and below middle class - nearly 70 crores - we will bring them to the middle class. 2:31 pm: Rahul: Sardar Patelji spoke about RSS as a poisonous organisation which can destroy India. Now those leaders who spent their lives in RSS are now going to erect a statue of Patelji. Probably they have not read Sardar Patelji's writings, or the history of India. If they open the Gita, whatever they say is opposed to the teachings of Gita, which calls for love and compassion. These leaders have nothing to do with history. They only give speeches, whereas the truth is that India has a thousand year hold history of brotherhood.2:29 pm: Rahul: When we gave statehood to Himachal Pradesh in 1972, these Opposition leaders opposed it saying, Statehood Ko Maro Thuk. When Rajiv Gandhiji spoke of computers and cellphones, the topmost BJP leaders, I dont want to name them, stood in Parliament and said, computerization will render lakhs of youths unemployed and it will harm the nation's economy. The computer revolution took place. Then their own IT minister Pramod Mahajan claimed that it was the BJP which gave computers and cellphones to India.2:28 pm: Rahul: In India, there are two ways of working. One is the way of Gandhiji, the way of love. The other way is of anger and hatred, to pit one community against the other. The Opposition must understand this if it wants to work for the nation.2:26 pm: Rahul: Himachal Pradesh has huge potential for tourism. Congress government provided infrastructure to Himachal. We tried to provide drinking water supply in Dharmashala. The Opposition says, the Congress only works for the poor, and it is the BJP who builds roads. I asked the surface transport ministry to show me statistics. Statistics show, we build 3 times more roads in five years than the NDA govt did in 5 years.2:24 pm: Rahul: I told the ex-servicemen that they need not thank me, rather I should thank them because they gave their lives for the nation. This decision will benefit 23 lakh ex-servicemen. Rahul Gandhi only raised your issue, it was the PM and Soniaji who implemented it. I thank both of them too.2:23 pm: Rahul: I spoke to ex-servicemen for nearly an hour. They told me about their problems. I thank the ex-servicemen who gave their life and blood for the nation. The ex-servicemen told me they have been asking for one rank, one pension for the last 25 years. Today, they thanked me for accepting their demand. 2:20 pm: Rahul Gandhi starts speech. Describes Dharmashal as a beautiful place. Crowd claps in approval.12 noon: Congress leaders at the rally venue say their meeting with Rahul Gandhi will be a closed door one.