Bhopal witnessed a massive turnout for the ‘Kisan Maha Chaupal,’ where Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha’s Leader of Opposition, held the BJP-led government accountable for its alleged inaction during a critical border standoff with China. Organized against the India-US interim trade agreement, the rally saw Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge sharing the dais.
Drawing from MM Naravane’s revelations, Gandhi detailed how he was silenced in Parliament when trying to raise the issue. Chinese armored units were encroaching on Indian territory, prompting Naravane to seek immediate guidance from Rajnath Singh over the phone—no firm orders came.
Subsequent calls to Ajit Doval and S Jaishankar yielded nothing. After a prolonged delay of about two hours, the Defence Minister advised approaching the PM, relaying a vague instruction to act at discretion. This, Gandhi argued, left the armed forces isolated without leadership.
Gandhi lambasted the government for flouting conventions by not granting him the floor post the President’s speech, calling it an assault on democratic norms.
He expressed deep concern over the safety of women, spotlighting the brutal assault on a Nagaland-origin doctor in Gorakhpur. Stalked and subjected to vile comments before the alleged rape, the incident underscores a disturbing trend of vulnerability for Northeast women across India.
Energizing the youth wing, Gandhi praised Youth Congress members as indomitable ‘Babbar Sher,’ urging them to stand fearless against oppression. The event amplified Congress’s narrative ahead of key political battles.