Rahul admits Indira Gandhi's Emergency was a mistake

However, he alleged that there was a "fundamental difference" between what happened during Emergency, and what is happening today.  “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is filling up the institutions of the country with its people. So, even if we defeat the BJP in the election, we are not going to get rid of their people in the institutional structure,” he said.

The Emergency was imposed by Indira Gandhi for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977.

On the killing of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul told Basu that his father’s death made him understand violence. Gandhi said he saw his father's death coming as he was fighting many forces at the time.

Last month, Rahul said that his father's killing brought him tremendous pain but he nursed no anger or hatred towards those responsible for it

"I don't have anger or hatred towards anybody.Of course, I lost my father and for me it was a very difficult time," he said, adding, it was similar to having one's heart severed. "I felt tremendous pain, but I don't feel anger, I don't feel any hatred or any anger. I forgive," he said.