Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Monday that the BJP and RSS were attacking the foundations of the country while stating that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was undertaken from Manipur to give a voice to the Northeast Indians.
Addressing a gathering at the Madan Pahamsyiem mini stadium in Ri-Bhoi district’s capital Nongpoh in Meghalaya, Rahul Gandhi said that the cherished idea of India, where people of all faiths coexist harmoniously, and the respect for all communities, languages, and traditions, were under attack.
“To protect the idea of India, we walked from the sea in Kanyakumari to the mountains of Kashmir (in 2022-23). We listened to the voices of farmers, laborers, and young people,” he said.
Following the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul said that there was a demand that the concerns of people in the North-East, Odisha, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar also be heard. “Hence, another Yatra was initiated from Manipur to Maharashtra.”
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Rahul Gandhi explained that Manipur was chosen as the starting point because the ideology of the RSS and BJP had adversely affected the state. He highlighted the destructive impact of politics driven by hatred and violence, resulting in numerous deaths and extensive property loss.
“The politics of hatred and violence have torn the state apart, causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of people to lose their property. It’s a complete tragedy! That’s why we wanted to send a message to the rest of India about the pain the people of Manipur are feeling,” he said, as PTI reported.
Expressing surprise, Gandhi questioned PM Modi, stating, “It is astonishing to me that the Prime Minister of India has not visited Manipur yet. Is Manipur not an Indian state? Are the people of Manipur not part of India?”
Gandhi claimed that if the PM genuinely wanted to halt the violence in Manipur, it could have been achieved within three days by directing the Indian Army.
“If he had told the Indian army that the violence in Manipur should be stopped, I am confident that the Indian army would have stopped it within days. The truth is, he is not interested in putting an end to the violence in Manipur. The government of India is happy to let Manipur burn and its people suffer,” he said.
The Yatra that began in Manipur on January 14, crossed Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh to reach Meghalaya on Monday.
Addressing the gathering, the Wayanad MP said, “We respect your culture, language and traditions and we believe fundamentally that Meghalaya should be ruled from Meghalaya.”
He expressed concern for the Northeast, stating, “The voices of Meghalaya, Manipur, and Arunachal are now under attack. Your tradition, history, and way of life are being targeted by the RSS.”
The Congress leader highlighted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself had labelled the Meghalaya government as the most corrupt in the country. Shortly after this statement, Shah entered into an alliance with the ruling National People’s Party for the 2023 assembly elections, he noted.
(With PTI Inputs)