New parliament a distraction from real issues: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a dig at the Prime Minister, saying there are some in India who think "they know more than God".

Speaking at an event by Indian Overseas Congress at Santa Clara in California, Gandhi also attacked the government over the construction of the new Parliament building. He said: "The new Parliament is a distraction as the BJP can't discuss issues like unemployment, price rise and crumbling education system."

Gandhi said: "The world is too big and complicated for any person to know everything. But, there is a group in India that is convinced it knows everything. That is the disease... The group members think they know even more than God."

The former Congress president also took jibes at the government display of a 'Sengol' (sceptre) at the inauguration of the new Parliament building and the manner in which the PM did a sashtanga namaskar.

"The BJP can't really discuss the real issues so it has to do the sceptre thing. You know lying down and doing all that. Aren't you happy that I am not lying down." Gandhi added, referring to the Sengol controversy that surfaced with the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

While talking about his Bharat Jodo yatra, which he said was undertaken for achieving unity among the people, Gandhi claimed the government had attempted to stop his yatra. "The government used all its strength to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The BJP is threatening people and misusing government agencies. But nothing worked and the impact of the Yatra increased. This happened because the idea of 'Join India' is in everyone's heart," Gandhi said.

Gandhi once again expressed concerns about, what he called "mistreatment" of minorities and Dalits in Indian under the current dispensations. He also alleged that the institutions of India were being taken over by the RSS. On Women's Reservation Bill, Rahul said: "We're committed to getting the bill passed. We have to give women their deserved space in the political system, businesses and running the country," he said.

A few Khalistani supporters tried to disrupt Gandhi's speech but were taken out by the security personnel.