Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the party undertook the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ as the country is witnessing a period of great injustice – political, social and economic. The 6,713 km Manipur to Mumbai Yatra is to raise the issues that matter to the country, including unemployment, inflation.
Gandhi embarked on the Yatra with a promise to bring peace and harmony to the ethnic violence-hit state. Ethnic violence in the northeastern state since May 3 last year has killed so far over 180 people.
“We are going through a period of profound injustice in India—social, economic and political. Injustice against the people and traditions of Manipur, also the injustices across the nation,” he said.
“Economically, monopolies are forming; a few individuals have access to the nation’s entire wealth. A couple of entities control all sectors, leading to the destruction of small businesses. India is grappling with inflation and unemployment. These are the issues that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will raise. But this is less about us and more about you,” Gandhi said.
Speaking in Thoubal district of Manipur, after unveiling the Yatra’s bus, where he and other Congress leaders will travel, Gandhi said that Manipur lost what it valued the most because of the politics of the BJP and the RSS, and the hatred they instil.
“We will bring back the harmony, peace and affection that the state has always been known for,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying perhaps for the BJP and the RSS, Manipur was not a part of India.
“Lakhs of people faced losses, but the prime minister has not come here to wipe your tears, hold your hand or embrace you. Maybe for Narendra Modi, the BJP and the RSS, Manipur is not a part of India. Your pain is not their pain,” Gandhi said.
“We understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through, we understand the hurt, the sadness. We will bring back harmony, peace and affection for which this state was known,” he said.
The Congress leader also said that it was “shameful” that he had not visited Manipur yet.
“I came to Manipur on June 29. What I saw and heard then was never seen or heard before. I have been in politics since 2004. For the first time, I went to a state in India where the government as collapsed…So much happened in Manipur, but till date the Prime Minister of India has not come to hug you or wipe your tears. It is a shameful thing,” Gandhi said.
He said that the Congress party started the “Bharat Jodo Yatra” with the aim of eradicating hatred and unite India.
“Regarding ‘Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra’, people said that this journey should start from the West, some said that the journey should start from the East. I clearly told him that the next journey could start only from Manipur,” he said.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will cover a distance of 6,713 km, criss-crossing 100 Lok Sabha constituencies and 337 assembly segments and covering 110 districts. The rally will conclude in Mumbai on March 20 after 67 days.