Rahul Gandhi: Mom told me words I used were strong, but what I said was not wrong

        



    A day after forcing the UPA government to withdraw its controversial ordinance shielding criminal politicians,                                                          Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday admitted that his words were strong but his sentiments were not wrong.

Addressing media in Ahmedabad on the first day of his two-day Gujarat trip, the Gandhi scion justified his outburst over the ordinance.

"My mom said that I used very strong words. As an afterthought, I agree. The words I used were strong, but my sentiments were not wrong," Gandhi said apparently justifying his verbal attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue.

"Why am I being penalised for speaking my mind? It has been very difficult for me... I am sorry if it disturbed you so much," he said.

"The problem of India is centralisation of power and very few people run this country," Gandhi said in reply to a question. He said the Congress was more democratic in its functioning than any other party.

Attacking the state's ruling party and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who also happens to be the NDA's prime ministerial candidate, the Amethi MP said, "Many people of BJP come to us and say that their voice is not heard in their own party."

Gandhi has been visiting Gujarat as part of the Lok Sabha election preparations. He started the tour visiting Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram earlier in the day.