Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday kick-started the second edition of his outreach programme ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ from Manipur's Thoubal district with a promise to bring peace and harmony back in the border state where ethnic violence has claimed more than 180 lives and rendered thousands homeless.
Before embarking on the yatra, the former Congress president paid floral tribute to the slain heroes of the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 at Khongjom War Memorial. On choosing Manipur as the starting point ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, he said, “The only motive behind launching the yatra from Manipur is making an attempt towards healing the sufferings of the people of Manipur, which has become a symbol of the BJP-RSS’ politics of hatred and injustice.”
Rahul said during his visit to Manipur on June 29 last year, the “sights and sounds he encountered were unprecedented in his political career beginning 2004”. “It marked the first instance where I witnessed complete breakdown of governance in a state,” he said. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the state after the Meitei-Kuki violence broke out, he said, “Manipur has been burning for the past eight months. The government, both Union and state, failed to provide any relief. It's shameful that the Prime Minister didn't think it wise to visit the state even once to offer solace to the violence-ravaged people.”
Taking a jibe at the PM's 'Mann ki Baat' programme, he said, “We don't want to tell you our 'mann ki baat', but want to hear yours…. We are passing through a period of injustice as a chosen few have captured the country's resources and businesses, leaving the common man, especially Dalits and other lower castes, suffering.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took a swipe at the PM's recent trip to Lakshadweep saying he was “going everywhere, and even venturing inside the sea, but had no time to visit Manipur”.
About the criticism the Congress leadership was facing for declining the temple inauguration invite, Kharge said, “Everybody has faith in God and there should be no doubt about it. But the BJP mixes religion with politics to incite people. They are using the temple construction for political gains. On the contrary, we fight for secularism, equality and social justice.”
The 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' will cover a distance of 6,713 km through 15 states, straddling 100 Lok Sabha and 337 Assembly constituencies across 110 districts. It will conclude in Mumbai on March 20 after 67 days. The previous 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' saw Rahul cover more than 3,000 km on foot from Kanyakumari to Srinagar
Suspended BSP MP Danish too turns up
Suspended by the BSP over “anti-party activities”, MP Danish Ali joined Rahul Gandhi's yatra in Manipur. Representing Amroha in UP, Ali described the yatra as a “crucial struggle against divisive politics and a government that only favours the wealthy”.
Has he come to mess with situation?
Given the current situation, is it a time for holding a rally? The situation is becoming better and we wonder if he has come to mess with it. — N Biren Singh, Manipur Chief Minister
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