BJP indulging in politics of division, says Rahul

"We consider the whole country as one and try to unite the people. Our opponents indulge in the politics of dividing the nation," Gandhi said, addressing his first poll rally in Wardha, Maharashtra.

Rahul said, "Some of these parties (opposition), do politics of religion, others of caste. Another difference between the opposition and us (Congress) is that we see India from the point of view of the aam aadmi (common man)," he said.

Hailing the pro-poor policies of the United Progressive Alliance government, he said in 2004 the slogan of the BJP was "Shining India" which no one in the villages understands.

"Their thinking (BJP) is not for the poor but the rich. They talk of the stock market. When someone reaches out to the poor, they make fun of it terming it as a drama. They are not bothered what a poor man is thinking and wants," Gandhi, whom the party is projecting as a youth icon, said.

The Congress leader said that during elections, issues of development and about the poor are not talked about, and pointed out that during the assembly elections for six states, the saffron party tried to make the Mumbai terror strike as a poll issue.

"They are talking of terrorism...When they were in government, they did not talk about it. They call our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as weak. But when they were in government, they bowed before the terrorists, a minister went to Kandahar and released the terrorists," Gandhi said.

Hailing Manmohan Singh's tenure as Prime Minister, the Congress leader said he did everything to take the country forward.

"After Mumbai, so much pressure was mounted on Pakistan that they are now lying low...He (PM) did the nuclear deal for your future, for energy," he said.

Gandhi said the opposition, which opposed the government for the nuclear deal, wanted to do it five years ago but termed it 'wrong' when the Congress government signed the deal.

"The foreigners (countries) who were talking to us were asking what was happening. When they were in government, they were supporting it but opposing it while in opposition," he said.

Attacking the BJP for its alleged anti-poor policies, Gandhi said, "When they were in government before 2004, I do not remember them doing anything for the poor".

"They were talking of privatisation, they sold big hotels. Gave them to their friends. They talk of the stock market," he said.

Gandhi also said that unless the poor and the youth are involved in the policy formulation, the country cannot be changed.