Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with youth supporters during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Haryana’s Nuh district on Thursday. , Photo Credit: PTI
Addressing a gathering in Nuh on the second day of the Haryana leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Thursday, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said he had to embark on the yatra as he was not being heard inside Parliament.
He also accused the government of finding excuses to stop the yatra.
Speaking at the historic Ghasera village, visited by Mahatma Gandhi on December 19, 1947, to persuade the local Meo Muslim population not to go to Pakistan, Mr. Gandhi said that the Congress would talk about the Rafale deal, demonetisation, the Goods and Services Tax and I wanted to speak. Politics of hate inside the Parliament, but the mikes were switched off and the cameras were turned towards the speaker. “No one could hear anything. So we started the journey,” Mr. Gandhi said in his 20-minute speech.
Touching upon the recent controversy over the Union Health Minister’s letter postponing the yatra in view of the emerging Covid situation, Mr Gandhi said those in power were intimidated by the “strength” and “truth” of India displayed during the yatra and Now making excuses to stop it.
Criticism of Modi
In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Gandhi, referring to the year-long farmers’ agitation, said that Mr. Modi could not face the challenge and would just turn around and run away.
“Try to understand the character of Mr. Modi. The moment someone stands against him, be it a farmer, he turns and runs away.
Shri Gandhi said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh spreads hatred but is afraid of the people, the poor, the farmers and the workers of this country.
Shri Gandhi said that the yatra has proved that the people of this country are not afraid of anyone. “The whole country will stand united one day and all this violence and hatred will end. And that day is not far off,” Mr Gandhi insisted amid thunderous applause.
He said that he will not allow anyone to divide the country.
Earlier, Congress general secretary and in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh told a press conference that the meetings called by Mr. Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to review the Covid situation were straight “politics” to prevent them from entering Delhi. December 24
He said the party would follow any protocol based on the opinion of medical experts, but not “political protocol” and warned the government not to politicize an important public health issue.
Mr Ramesh accused the Haryana government of cutting off electricity in Nuh’s Bhadas village near the yatra’s night camp site and erecting barricades to prevent people from joining it.