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New Delhi, Delhi, India
Non-violence is "a founding philosophy of our nationhood" and the "essence of being an Indian", Rahul Gandhi said Wednesday in Germany.
The Congress President was speaking at the Bucerius Summer School in Hamburg, Germany. Gandhi is on a four-day visit to Germany and the UK.
"Both my father and grandmother were killed, I have suffered violence. There is only one way forward and that is forgiveness," said Gandhi.
Gandhi was asked about him hugging PM Narendra Modi in Parliament.
"PM was making hateful remarks at me. I showed affection, he was taken aback," said Gandhi. "Even some of them (my Party members) didn't like it and I disagreed with them," he added.
"Basic idea is that if someone hates you, it is something that they are doing. Responding to it with hate is foolish, it won't solve any problem. You are in full control of how you react," said Gandhi.
LIVE: CP @RahulGandhi addresses a gathering at Bucerius Summer School, Germany. #WillkommenRahulGandhi https://t.co/OeiNci1zhS
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 22, 2018
Congress President’s hugs are in demand! #WillkommenRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/Wzpj5FwOz9
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 22, 2018
Gandhi was asked a number of other questions, including on the race between India and China and the #MeToo movement.
He said India and China were not necessarily racing towards the same thing. That he thought it was important that in India, people could say anything they wanted to. And that was equal to at least a couple of percentage points in GDP growth.
There is no race between India and China. China might be growing at a higher rate than India, but in India people are allowed to express what they want, and that's what matters: Congress President @RahulGandhi #WillkommenRahulGandhi #Bucerius pic.twitter.com/kiE4jowSWE
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 22, 2018
European leaders are pro-globalisation but they have no answer on how to compete with the Indians and Chinese: Congress President @RahulGandhi #WillkommenRahulGandhi #Bucerius pic.twitter.com/kUAxg6JjIl
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 22, 2018
And while he did not agree with the recent report that India was the most unsafe country for women, he said that there is a "huge amount" of violence against women in India.
He added that "India needs to change the way the Indian men view Indian women. Men have to start viewing women as equals and with respect. I am sorry to say that men do not."