Jaipur, June 15 -- Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday called for strengthening the INDIA alliance and projecting Rahul Gandhi as its leader, while launching a sharp attack on the BJP and claiming that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi would have banned a party like the BJP if she were alive today.

Speaking on the need for opposition unity, Gehlot said, "There is a need to strengthen the INDIA alliance... I also stated that INDIA alliance should openly give leadership to Rahul Gandhi..."

Drawing a comparison with the political landscape during the tenure of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he said, "Back in the day, during Indira Gandhi's time, it was Congress versus all other parties... The 'Congress hatao, desh bachao' campai...