Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today arrived in Mumbai, boarded a crowded local train and even withdrew money from an ATM, amid the Shiv Sena’s call for black flag demonstrations against him for his recent comment that Mumbai belongs to all Indians.

 

The 39-year-old Congress MP, who was in the city on a five-hour visit, lambasted the Shiv Sena and its offshoot, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), on their own turf, accusing them of dividing people on communal and linguistic lines.

 

Barring stray incidents of slogan shouting and display of black flags by a section Shiv Sena activists, Gandhi interacted with about 1,100 college students at the Bhaidas Hall in north-west Mumbai.

 

“The Congress stands for a united India. There are two kinds of leaders in the country — one who divide and rule and the other who collaborate and take everyone along towards the objective of a united India and move forward. There are some people here who are trying to divide you on a communal and linguistic basis and the Congress is against them,” he told the gathering.

 

The Congress leader also exhorted youths to focus on the inclusive development of the country and refrain from divisive politics.

 

Although Gandhi did not name the saffron outfits, the reference to them was clear. The Sena’s call to show black flags against him turned to be a damp squib due to swift police action. Five members of the Shiv Sena, including two legislators and a corporator, were arrested as they tried to show black flags to Gandhi

 

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