The Congress vice-president says the party “stood with the poor” and this remained his sole motivation to be in politics.

Breaking his silence on allegations levelled by former Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he did intervene in her Ministry matters on “behalf of tribal and poor people.”

“Yes…I did so...The only reason why I am in politics is because I stand by the poor, because I want to fight for their rights. Yes, I called her and told her to ensure that their rights weren’t infringed upon. I admit it,” Mr. Gandhi told a campaign meeting at Jheelwala Park in West Delhi’s Janakpuri, emphasising that he did nothing wrong.

“That is my politics. I am not in politics to promote the interests of a handful of industrialists, but to take up issues that matter to the poor, the Adivasis.”