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Tag: Bharat-Jodo Yatra

  • Bharat Jodo Yatra spread message of love across the country: Priyanka Gandhi

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said the Rahul Gnadhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra has spread the message of love to every corner of the country and urged the party’s supporters to unite for taking the nation forward.

    Rahul Gandhi unfurled the national flag at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar as part of the Kanyakumari to Kashmir ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party leaders and workers, resumed the final lap of the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir from Srinagar’s Pantha Chowk around 10:45 am.

    Those part of the march walked for about eight kilometres to Sonwar raising slogans such as “Jodo Jodo Bharat Jodo”, and along the way, were cheered and greeted by locals.

    “Today is a historic moment for all of us. With the support of crores of citizens, the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari, has reached its final destination. By your hard work, the message of love has reached every corner of the country. We have to remain steadfast with the message of love and unite to take the country forward,” Vadra tweeted.

    The yatra, which began from Kanyakumari on September 7 last year, reached here this morning after covering a distance of 4,080 kilometres and covering 75 districts spread over 14 states and union territories of the country.

    A mega-rally is planned here Monday where leaders from Congress and like-minded opposition parties are expected to address the gathering.

    ALSO READ | Bharat Jodo Yatra: Controversies, sparring and barbs kept spotlight on Rahul-led march

    SRINAGAR: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said the Rahul Gnadhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra has spread the message of love to every corner of the country and urged the party’s supporters to unite for taking the nation forward.

    Rahul Gandhi unfurled the national flag at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar as part of the Kanyakumari to Kashmir ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party leaders and workers, resumed the final lap of the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir from Srinagar’s Pantha Chowk around 10:45 am.

    Those part of the march walked for about eight kilometres to Sonwar raising slogans such as “Jodo Jodo Bharat Jodo”, and along the way, were cheered and greeted by locals.

    “Today is a historic moment for all of us. With the support of crores of citizens, the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari, has reached its final destination. By your hard work, the message of love has reached every corner of the country. We have to remain steadfast with the message of love and unite to take the country forward,” Vadra tweeted.

    The yatra, which began from Kanyakumari on September 7 last year, reached here this morning after covering a distance of 4,080 kilometres and covering 75 districts spread over 14 states and union territories of the country.

    A mega-rally is planned here Monday where leaders from Congress and like-minded opposition parties are expected to address the gathering.

    ALSO READ | Bharat Jodo Yatra: Controversies, sparring and barbs kept spotlight on Rahul-led march

  • No meaningful opposition coalition is possible without Congress in 2024: Jairam Ramesh

    By PTI

    AWANTIPORA (J-K): The Congress must be the “fulcrum” of any Opposition alliance to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections as no coalition can be “meaningful” or “relevant” without it, senior leader Jairam Ramesh said on Saturday.

    The Congress general secretary also said that in his view, the Congress should be preparing to fight on its own in every state in the 2029 general elections.

    In an interview with PTI, Ramesh said he would certainly put his weight behind doing another yatra from Gujarat’s Porbandar to Arunachal Pradesh’s Parshuram Kund this year but the party has to take a call on it eventually.

    “I certainly have been giving a thought to it. Now, whether the party will or not (undertake such a yatra), I cannot say. But ideally, when the Bharat Jodo Yatra was thought of in Udaipur, there was also a thought of moving from west to east,” said Ramesh, who along with Digvijaya Singh, is considered to be the brain behind the Kanyakumari to Kashmir ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which will culminate on January 30 in Srinagar.

    Asked if the Congress would be the fulcrum of an Opposition coalition, especially after the massive cross-country march it has undertaken, Ramesh said, “I certainly believe so. It stands to reason as we are the only national political party even today (besides the BJP).”

    “We may not be in power in state after state but if you look at the presence in every village, mohalla, block, town or city, you would find Congress workers, Congress families,” he said.

    The BJP may be in power but in terms of sheer presence, the Congress is the only national political force, Ramesh claimed.

    “Just measuring our influence by the number of states we govern or the percentage of votes that we get is a very narrow perspective. The ideology of the Congress is at the Centre. It is a Centre-Left party. Every party veers around to the Congress point of view, to the middle path, the path of consensus and conciliation,” he said.

    “So yes, we are the fulcrum. If we are going to take on the BJP, it is only a coalition around the Congress (that can do so),” he added.

    ALSO READ | Disinformation stalks Rahul Gandhi on Bharat Jodo Yatra

    Addressing a press conference at the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office in Srinagar, Ramesh said after the Yatra, opposition parties will begin the process of talks and political negotiations, but the cross-country march had nothing to do with it.

    “Any opposition platform to defeat the BJP must be based on two realities – Congress must be the pivot or the fulcrum of any Opposition alliance, without the Congress, no opposition alliance is relevant or meaningful,” he said.

    “Any Opposition alliance must be based on a constructive agenda, not just a negative agenda of anti-BJP-ism or anti-government-ism. This is not the business of the Bharat Jodo Yatra which has nothing to do with elections,” Ramesh said.

    Any attempt to build a meaningful, winning coalition against the BJP must be pivoted around the Congress, he asserted.

    Asked about some Opposition leaders conveying their inability to attend the January 30 event, he said it was not a setback.

    In the interview with PTI, Ramesh said he would ideally want the Congress to take on the BJP alone but that may not be realistic in 2024.

    “My view is that, for 2029, we should be preparing to fight on our own in every state. But I am realistic that this position may not find favours within my own political party,” he said.

    He, however, added that in some states, the Congress has given too much space to its allies which is detrimental to organisation building.

    Rahul Gandhi’s key message has always been to build the organisation first and power will follow, but the Congress has reversed that sequence, he said, adding that the former party chief’s view is the right one.

    “Long years of being in power has been detrimental to the organisational vitality. With the Bharat Jodo Yatra, this (organisational vitality) has gotten a booster and momentum but that has to be sustained,” Ramesh said.

    “We cannot go back to having conflicts within the organisation between leaders, clashes among different groups. One would expect that after the Bharat Jodo Yatra, we have found a higher purpose,” he stressed.

    ALSO READ | Bharat Jodo Yatra helps Rahul Gandhi rebuild political image

    The Bharat Jodo Yatra is a great cause involving a large number of Congress workers and the largeness of the cause must reflect in our behaviour and approach when it comes to a halt, otherwise, this will just be one episode, Ramesh said.

    “I have been saying this is not an event, it is a movement. So, if we want it to be seen as a movement, we must treat it as a movement,” he added.

    Asked about personal ambitions affecting the party’s prospects in various states and how the Congress would solve Rajasthan’s Ashok Gehlot-Sachin Pilot feud, Ramesh said, “These personal ambition and personal goals have been a bane of the Congress. What the Bharat Jodo Yatra has done is that it has brought a sense of collective purpose and solidarity, and that is what is needed in state after state, including in Rajasthan.”

    The organisation has to triumph, not individual egos and ambitions, as what is good for the organisation will be good for party individuals but what may be good for an individual may not necessarily be good for the party, Ramesh said.

    Referring to the Congress organisation as a “sleeping giant,” Ramesh said the yatra has certainly given new hope to it but this is not sufficient as this has just opened an opportunity and now it depends on the organisation on different levels to take forward the momentum that has been generated.

    “It (yatra) has been a great booster dose for the organisation and people are talking of the Congress in a different light than they were five months ago,” he said.

    Talking about Gandhi’s image transformation, Ramesh said this was not the cause of the yatra but it was a consequence of the yatra. Gandhi’s image transformation among the people has been a great bonus, Ramesh said.

    “I think the BJP maligning Rahul Gandhi is not going to stop because their only game is maligning and defamation. But the credibility of what they are doing is far less than what it used to be. There will be few takes of the ‘Pappufication’ as you call it,” he asserted.

    Ramesh added that there has also been a transformation in terms of the narrative of the Congress.

    AWANTIPORA (J-K): The Congress must be the “fulcrum” of any Opposition alliance to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections as no coalition can be “meaningful” or “relevant” without it, senior leader Jairam Ramesh said on Saturday.

    The Congress general secretary also said that in his view, the Congress should be preparing to fight on its own in every state in the 2029 general elections.

    In an interview with PTI, Ramesh said he would certainly put his weight behind doing another yatra from Gujarat’s Porbandar to Arunachal Pradesh’s Parshuram Kund this year but the party has to take a call on it eventually.

    “I certainly have been giving a thought to it. Now, whether the party will or not (undertake such a yatra), I cannot say. But ideally, when the Bharat Jodo Yatra was thought of in Udaipur, there was also a thought of moving from west to east,” said Ramesh, who along with Digvijaya Singh, is considered to be the brain behind the Kanyakumari to Kashmir ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which will culminate on January 30 in Srinagar.

    Asked if the Congress would be the fulcrum of an Opposition coalition, especially after the massive cross-country march it has undertaken, Ramesh said, “I certainly believe so. It stands to reason as we are the only national political party even today (besides the BJP).”

    “We may not be in power in state after state but if you look at the presence in every village, mohalla, block, town or city, you would find Congress workers, Congress families,” he said.

    The BJP may be in power but in terms of sheer presence, the Congress is the only national political force, Ramesh claimed.

    “Just measuring our influence by the number of states we govern or the percentage of votes that we get is a very narrow perspective. The ideology of the Congress is at the Centre. It is a Centre-Left party. Every party veers around to the Congress point of view, to the middle path, the path of consensus and conciliation,” he said.

    “So yes, we are the fulcrum. If we are going to take on the BJP, it is only a coalition around the Congress (that can do so),” he added.

    ALSO READ | Disinformation stalks Rahul Gandhi on Bharat Jodo Yatra

    Addressing a press conference at the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office in Srinagar, Ramesh said after the Yatra, opposition parties will begin the process of talks and political negotiations, but the cross-country march had nothing to do with it.

    “Any opposition platform to defeat the BJP must be based on two realities – Congress must be the pivot or the fulcrum of any Opposition alliance, without the Congress, no opposition alliance is relevant or meaningful,” he said.

    “Any Opposition alliance must be based on a constructive agenda, not just a negative agenda of anti-BJP-ism or anti-government-ism. This is not the business of the Bharat Jodo Yatra which has nothing to do with elections,” Ramesh said.

    Any attempt to build a meaningful, winning coalition against the BJP must be pivoted around the Congress, he asserted.

    Asked about some Opposition leaders conveying their inability to attend the January 30 event, he said it was not a setback.

    In the interview with PTI, Ramesh said he would ideally want the Congress to take on the BJP alone but that may not be realistic in 2024.

    “My view is that, for 2029, we should be preparing to fight on our own in every state. But I am realistic that this position may not find favours within my own political party,” he said.

    He, however, added that in some states, the Congress has given too much space to its allies which is detrimental to organisation building.

    Rahul Gandhi’s key message has always been to build the organisation first and power will follow, but the Congress has reversed that sequence, he said, adding that the former party chief’s view is the right one.

    “Long years of being in power has been detrimental to the organisational vitality. With the Bharat Jodo Yatra, this (organisational vitality) has gotten a booster and momentum but that has to be sustained,” Ramesh said.

    “We cannot go back to having conflicts within the organisation between leaders, clashes among different groups. One would expect that after the Bharat Jodo Yatra, we have found a higher purpose,” he stressed.

    ALSO READ | Bharat Jodo Yatra helps Rahul Gandhi rebuild political image

    The Bharat Jodo Yatra is a great cause involving a large number of Congress workers and the largeness of the cause must reflect in our behaviour and approach when it comes to a halt, otherwise, this will just be one episode, Ramesh said.

    “I have been saying this is not an event, it is a movement. So, if we want it to be seen as a movement, we must treat it as a movement,” he added.

    Asked about personal ambitions affecting the party’s prospects in various states and how the Congress would solve Rajasthan’s Ashok Gehlot-Sachin Pilot feud, Ramesh said, “These personal ambition and personal goals have been a bane of the Congress. What the Bharat Jodo Yatra has done is that it has brought a sense of collective purpose and solidarity, and that is what is needed in state after state, including in Rajasthan.”

    The organisation has to triumph, not individual egos and ambitions, as what is good for the organisation will be good for party individuals but what may be good for an individual may not necessarily be good for the party, Ramesh said.

    Referring to the Congress organisation as a “sleeping giant,” Ramesh said the yatra has certainly given new hope to it but this is not sufficient as this has just opened an opportunity and now it depends on the organisation on different levels to take forward the momentum that has been generated.

    “It (yatra) has been a great booster dose for the organisation and people are talking of the Congress in a different light than they were five months ago,” he said.

    Talking about Gandhi’s image transformation, Ramesh said this was not the cause of the yatra but it was a consequence of the yatra. Gandhi’s image transformation among the people has been a great bonus, Ramesh said.

    “I think the BJP maligning Rahul Gandhi is not going to stop because their only game is maligning and defamation. But the credibility of what they are doing is far less than what it used to be. There will be few takes of the ‘Pappufication’ as you call it,” he asserted.

    Ramesh added that there has also been a transformation in terms of the narrative of the Congress.

  • Bharat Jodo Yatra helps Rahul Gandhi rebuild political image

    NEW DELHI: Five months spent traversing his country on foot helped the scion of India’s most famous dynasty shed his playboy image — but the road to reviving his dismal political fortunes will be a tougher journey.Rahul Gandhi has for years struggled to challenge the electoral juggernaut of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a near-monopoly on power through nationalist appeals to the country’s Hindu majority.

    Modi has revelled in casting his chief opponent, dubbed an “empty suit” in leaked US embassy cables from 2005, as an out-of-touch princeling more interested in luxury and self-indulgence than fighting to helm the world’s biggest democracy.

    His Congress party, a once-mighty force with a proud role in ending British colonial rule 75 years ago, is now a shadow of its former self, plagued by infighting and defections.

    But a decision to invoke one of India’s best-known protest traditions, flanked by ordinary people, has given him an air of authority that had so far eluded him in public life.

    “Rightly or wrongly, the BJP’s campaign of him being an incompetent person was the dominant perception — he has managed to change that,” independent political analyst Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Junior told AFP.

    Since his long trek began on India’s southernmost tip last September, Gandhi has struck a chord with fiery speeches and affectionate interactions with the thousands of bystanders that have lined streets to watch his procession.

    The campaign harkens back to the famous 1930 trek by Rahul’s unrelated namesake Mahatma Gandhi, whose march to protest a salt tax imposed by British rulers was a seminal moment in India’s independence struggle.

    It has bypassed the country’s traditional media in an effort to reach the public directly, with an in-house social media apparatus and interviews with online influencers.

    Footage of Gandhi on the road shows him with a new commanding posture, sporting an unkempt salt-and-pepper beard grown during the march and trailed by smiling children.

    His 3,500-kilometre (2,175-mile) journey — not all by foot — concludes on Monday in the frosty Himalayan foothills of Kashmir, after months spent finessing both his common touch and a voter pitch capitalising on widespread economic insecurity.

    “The job of the nation is to make sure that you feel protected,” he said this month while sharing kebabs and playfully joking about his sweet tooth in a YouTube interview with a popular food blogger.

    ALSO READ | Disinformation stalks Rahul Gandhi on Bharat Jodo Yatra

    ‘Unite India’

    The “Bharat Jodo Yatra” (“Unite India March”) has fashioned Gandhi into a more credible heir to the legacy of his father, grandmother and great-grandfather, each one a former prime minister, beginning with independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru.

    But Gandhi has already steered Congress to two landslide election defeats against the seemingly unconquerable BJP, whose victory in next year’s national polls is almost universally considered a foregone conclusion by experts.

    “He has managed to redefine his public image,” Rao said. “Whether it will translate into votes, I am not very sure.”

    Congress was dominant during the first half-century after Indian independence but now governs in just three of India’s 28 states.

    The party weathered a messy and public internal brawl last year over who would take office as its president after the resignation of Sonia Gandhi — Rahul’s mother, widowed when her husband Rajiv was assassinated in a suicide attack in 1991.

    Several leaders of other opposition parties historically aligned with Congress spurned Rahul’s entreaties to join his countrywide trek, an uncharitable estimation of his prospects next year.

    His exhortations of religious tolerance and India’s secular traditions have in the past failed to dent the BJP’s muscular advocacy for the Hindu majority at a time of rising intolerance against Muslims.

    ALSO READ | OPINION: Rahul Gandhi’s yatra and a sea of happy images

    ‘He had no choice’

    But his decision to undertake the march also reflects his biggest hurdle: the enduring power of Prime Minister Modi, whose skill in cultivating a populist public image well outclasses his own.

    “Rahul Gandhi himself has said that he had no choice but to go for the (march) in order to connect with people and report it through social media,” Zoya Hasan, an academic and political scientist based in New Delhi, told AFP.

    Modi is the beneficiary of a media environment largely in thrall to the BJP’s agenda, with Indian press freedoms declining significantly since he took office in 2014, according to international watchdogs.

    While the prime minister’s daily movements are reported on frantically by cable news broadcasters, Gandhi’s exploits have largely failed to feature unless they cast him in a negative light.

    “Anything that undermines the opposition is prime news,” Hasan added.

    “Anything that is positive which actually brings people together, as the Bharat Jodo Yatra is seeking to do, is not.”

  • Disinformation stalks Rahul Gandhi on Bharat Jodo Yatra

    By AFP

    NEW DELHI: As Rahul Gandhi trekked across India on a march that even critics say has improved his image, the descendant of three past premiers was followed all the way by online disinformation.

    For Gandhi’s opposition Congress party, the main source of this barrage of lies and doctored videos is the well-oiled social media army of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Gandhi, 52, is due to end his 3,500-kilometre (2,175-mile) journey next week, but the trek has attracted little attention from mainstream Indian media. Online, it has been smeared with disinformation.

    The false claims have included saying the flag of India’s archrival Pakistan was raised during the march, and that Congress workers distributed cash to attract attendees.

    One video showed Gandhi enjoying a sexually explicit song — India remains deeply conservative — but the audio was doctored, with the original song from a Bollywood movie. Another image was digitally altered to show Gandhi having alcohol served at his table, an implied moral laxity aimed at hurting his standing among devout Hindus and Muslims.

    ALSO READ | OPINION: Rahul Gandhi’s yatra and a sea of happy images

    BJP ‘rattled’

    Fact-checking organisations in India, including AFP, have published nearly 30 blogs debunking false claims about the march that appeared on Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging platforms.

    Congress, which ruled India for decades but now looks like a spent force, has pointed the finger at the BJP for attempting to mock and discredit Gandhi.

    Supriya Shrinate, the chairperson of Congress’s social and digital media team, said the BJP has put out at least 10-15 “big lies,” including on what Gandhi wore, ate and how he worshipped.

    “BJP is completely rattled… This is not the first time they have maligned the image of Gandhi, and they will do it again. This is a well-crafted machinery that along with big media and corporates are targeting him,” she told AFP.

    Some of the false claims have come from senior figures within the BJP.

    Amit Malviya, in charge of BJP’s National Information and Technology Department, shared a clip on Twitter alongside a false claim that a senior Congress member was tying Gandhi’s shoelaces.

    “The arrogant entitled brat instead of helping himself is seen patting his back,” Malviya wrote in the tweet, viewed 1.1 million times and which Twitter labelled as “presented out of context.”

    Congress’s own social media team tweeted a video statement from the Congress politician in the video explaining that he was tying his own laces, not Gandhi’s. This was viewed just 160,100 times.

    ALSO READ | ‘India about brotherhood and unity, that’s why Bharat Jodo Yatra is successful’: Rahul

    Polarisation

    Neither Malviya nor BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao responded to requests for comment from AFP on this story.

    Online disinformation has exploded in India, alongside mushrooming cellphone ownership and internet usage in recent years. While all political parties, including Congress, are guilty, the BJP and its social media team are by far the most prolific, experts say.

    Joyojeet Pal, an associate professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, was sceptical about how much fact-checking and debunking disinformation can help.

    “With the level of polarisation we see in India right now, people will believe or at least pretend to believe what better suits their predispositions than what is a fact.”

    NEW DELHI: As Rahul Gandhi trekked across India on a march that even critics say has improved his image, the descendant of three past premiers was followed all the way by online disinformation.

    For Gandhi’s opposition Congress party, the main source of this barrage of lies and doctored videos is the well-oiled social media army of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Gandhi, 52, is due to end his 3,500-kilometre (2,175-mile) journey next week, but the trek has attracted little attention from mainstream Indian media. Online, it has been smeared with disinformation.

    The false claims have included saying the flag of India’s archrival Pakistan was raised during the march, and that Congress workers distributed cash to attract attendees.

    One video showed Gandhi enjoying a sexually explicit song — India remains deeply conservative — but the audio was doctored, with the original song from a Bollywood movie. Another image was digitally altered to show Gandhi having alcohol served at his table, an implied moral laxity aimed at hurting his standing among devout Hindus and Muslims.

    ALSO READ | OPINION: Rahul Gandhi’s yatra and a sea of happy images

    BJP ‘rattled’

    Fact-checking organisations in India, including AFP, have published nearly 30 blogs debunking false claims about the march that appeared on Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging platforms.

    Congress, which ruled India for decades but now looks like a spent force, has pointed the finger at the BJP for attempting to mock and discredit Gandhi.

    Supriya Shrinate, the chairperson of Congress’s social and digital media team, said the BJP has put out at least 10-15 “big lies,” including on what Gandhi wore, ate and how he worshipped.

    “BJP is completely rattled… This is not the first time they have maligned the image of Gandhi, and they will do it again. This is a well-crafted machinery that along with big media and corporates are targeting him,” she told AFP.

    Some of the false claims have come from senior figures within the BJP.

    Amit Malviya, in charge of BJP’s National Information and Technology Department, shared a clip on Twitter alongside a false claim that a senior Congress member was tying Gandhi’s shoelaces.

    “The arrogant entitled brat instead of helping himself is seen patting his back,” Malviya wrote in the tweet, viewed 1.1 million times and which Twitter labelled as “presented out of context.”

    Congress’s own social media team tweeted a video statement from the Congress politician in the video explaining that he was tying his own laces, not Gandhi’s. This was viewed just 160,100 times.

    ALSO READ | ‘India about brotherhood and unity, that’s why Bharat Jodo Yatra is successful’: Rahul

    Polarisation

    Neither Malviya nor BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao responded to requests for comment from AFP on this story.

    Online disinformation has exploded in India, alongside mushrooming cellphone ownership and internet usage in recent years. While all political parties, including Congress, are guilty, the BJP and its social media team are by far the most prolific, experts say.

    Joyojeet Pal, an associate professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, was sceptical about how much fact-checking and debunking disinformation can help.

    “With the level of polarisation we see in India right now, people will believe or at least pretend to believe what better suits their predispositions than what is a fact.”

  • Ahead of J&K leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, row erupts over invite to ex-BJP leader

    Express News Service

    SRI NAGAR: Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is due to enter Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. However, the participation of former BJP minister Choudhary Lal Singh in the yatra has created a controversy. The Congress spokesperson Deepika Pushkar resigned from the party as a mark of protest, and former chief minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah asked the Congress to ensure that yatra is not used by any leader to whitewash their past.

    “The Congress would have to see whether some leaders are using the yatra to whitewash themselves,” Omar said.“We have not forgotten the role of those leaders, who had come in support of the rapists by playing with the emotions of the people.  These leaders will now be using the yatra to present themselves as secular which is wrong and not good for the yatra,” he said.

    “The Congress leaders should see who is participating in the rally and what has been their track record,” he added.Singh had come in support of Kathua rape and murder accused and also held rallies in support of them.An eight-year-old nomad girl was gangraped and murdered in Rasana village of Kathua in J&K in January 2018. Singh and another BJP minister Chandra Prakash were forced to resign from the then Mehbooba Mufti-led government in April 2018.

    J&K Congress spokesperson Deepika Pushkar Nath, who had legally fought the case for Kathua rape and murder victim, resigned from the party on Tuesday over party allowing Singh to join the yatra.“Lal Singh was responsible in sabotaging the Kathua rape case in 2018 by brazenly defending rapists. Lal Singh divided entire region of J&K to protect the rapists and @bharatjodo is ideologically opposite.On ideological grounds, I cannot share the party platform with such a person (sic),” tweeted Deepika.

    SRI NAGAR: Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is due to enter Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. However, the participation of former BJP minister Choudhary Lal Singh in the yatra has created a controversy. The Congress spokesperson Deepika Pushkar resigned from the party as a mark of protest, and former chief minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah asked the Congress to ensure that yatra is not used by any leader to whitewash their past.

    “The Congress would have to see whether some leaders are using the yatra to whitewash themselves,” Omar said.“We have not forgotten the role of those leaders, who had come in support of the rapists by playing with the emotions of the people.  These leaders will now be using the yatra to present themselves as secular which is wrong and not good for the yatra,” he said.

    “The Congress leaders should see who is participating in the rally and what has been their track record,” he added.Singh had come in support of Kathua rape and murder accused and also held rallies in support of them.An eight-year-old nomad girl was gangraped and murdered in Rasana village of Kathua in J&K in January 2018. Singh and another BJP minister Chandra Prakash were forced to resign from the then Mehbooba Mufti-led government in April 2018.

    J&K Congress spokesperson Deepika Pushkar Nath, who had legally fought the case for Kathua rape and murder victim, resigned from the party on Tuesday over party allowing Singh to join the yatra.“Lal Singh was responsible in sabotaging the Kathua rape case in 2018 by brazenly defending rapists. Lal Singh divided entire region of J&K to protect the rapists and @bharatjodo is ideologically opposite.On ideological grounds, I cannot share the party platform with such a person (sic),” tweeted Deepika.

  • Bharat Jodo Yatra to enter J&K tomorrow, grand finale in Srinagar on January 30  

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) would enter Jammu and Kashmir on January 19 and tight security measures would be put in place in the Union Territory for the yatra.

    AICC J&K In-charge Rajni Patil told reporters in Jammu that the BJY would enter Lakhanpur’s Kathua district of J&K from Punjab on January 19 at 4 pm.

    “After the night halt, Rahul will lead the yatra from Hatli Morh in Kathua from January 20 morning and take a night halt at Chadwal. January 21 will be the break day,” she said.

    The rally will reach Jammu on January 23 and the party is planning a rally in the city. The yatra would remain in Jammu region for over a week.

    Former J&K Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said the yatra would enter Kashmir from Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on January 27.

    The closing of the yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, would take place in Srinagar on January 30.

    “From January 27, the yatra will travel to different parts enroute to Srinagar. A mega rally will be held at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar on January 30,” Mir said.

    Asked whether Rahul Gandhi would hoist the national tricolour, which he is carrying from Kanyakumari, at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar, he said that he is searching for a place to hoist the flag.

    “The flag will be placed permanently at the place,” Mir said.

    Director General of J&K Police Dilbagh Singh said all security needs of the yatra will be taken care of and security will be ensured in every district.

    “Whatever security measures are needed will be put in place for the yatra,” he said adding, “Yatra will be regulated to ensure that people don’t face inconveniences.”

    Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Advocate Deepika Rajawat, who led the legal fight for justice for an eight-year-old girl who was brutally raped and murdered in J&K’s Kathua in January 2018 resigned from the party over allowing former BJP minister and ex-Congress MP Lal Singh to participate in the yatra.

    In a series of tweets, Deepika alleged that Lal Singh defended the rapists of the girl and divided the entire J&K to protect the rapists.

    “In view of Ch. Lal Singh’s proposal of joining @bharatjodo &  @INCJammuKashmir  allowing the same, I am left with no other option but to resign from @INCIndia .Lal Singh was responsible for sabotaging the Kathua rape case in 2018 by brazenly defending rapists,” she tweeted.

    Lal Singh, who now heads a Jammu-based party, and other politicians from J&K including Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Muzaffar Shah would be attending the yatra. Shiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut would also join the yatra when it enters J&K tomorrow.

    However, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has floated his own party DAP, would not be attending the yatra. Neither did Congress invite him to the yatra nor did Azad show any inclination to attend the yatra.

    SRINAGAR:  Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) would enter Jammu and Kashmir on January 19 and tight security measures would be put in place in the Union Territory for the yatra.

    AICC J&K In-charge Rajni Patil told reporters in Jammu that the BJY would enter Lakhanpur’s Kathua district of J&K from Punjab on January 19 at 4 pm.

    “After the night halt, Rahul will lead the yatra from Hatli Morh in Kathua from January 20 morning and take a night halt at Chadwal. January 21 will be the break day,” she said.

    The rally will reach Jammu on January 23 and the party is planning a rally in the city. The yatra would remain in Jammu region for over a week.

    Former J&K Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said the yatra would enter Kashmir from Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on January 27.

    The closing of the yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, would take place in Srinagar on January 30.

    “From January 27, the yatra will travel to different parts enroute to Srinagar. A mega rally will be held at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar on January 30,” Mir said.

    Asked whether Rahul Gandhi would hoist the national tricolour, which he is carrying from Kanyakumari, at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar, he said that he is searching for a place to hoist the flag.

    “The flag will be placed permanently at the place,” Mir said.

    Director General of J&K Police Dilbagh Singh said all security needs of the yatra will be taken care of and security will be ensured in every district.

    “Whatever security measures are needed will be put in place for the yatra,” he said adding, “Yatra will be regulated to ensure that people don’t face inconveniences.”

    Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Advocate Deepika Rajawat, who led the legal fight for justice for an eight-year-old girl who was brutally raped and murdered in J&K’s Kathua in January 2018 resigned from the party over allowing former BJP minister and ex-Congress MP Lal Singh to participate in the yatra.

    In a series of tweets, Deepika alleged that Lal Singh defended the rapists of the girl and divided the entire J&K to protect the rapists.

    “In view of Ch. Lal Singh’s proposal of joining @bharatjodo &  @INCJammuKashmir  allowing the same, I am left with no other option but to resign from @INCIndia .Lal Singh was responsible for sabotaging the Kathua rape case in 2018 by brazenly defending rapists,” she tweeted.

    Lal Singh, who now heads a Jammu-based party, and other politicians from J&K including Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Muzaffar Shah would be attending the yatra. Shiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut would also join the yatra when it enters J&K tomorrow.

    However, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has floated his own party DAP, would not be attending the yatra. Neither did Congress invite him to the yatra nor did Azad show any inclination to attend the yatra.

  • Bharat Jodo Yatra suspended for twenty-four hours due to Congress MP demise

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: The Bharat Jodo Yatra has been suspended for twenty-four hours due to the demise of 76-year-old Santokh Singh Chaudhary Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar today morning as he died of a heart attack during the Yatra of Rahul Gandhi in Phillaur.

    Sources said that as the yatra reached Phillur the two-time Member of Parliament came out with Rahul Gandhi from Kusht Ashram and then began walking with him. After a few minutes, he collapsed during the yatra and was rushed to Virk hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance where he was declared dead.

    The yatra was halted following Chaudhary’s death leading Rahul Gandhi to rush to the hospital. Later, when the body of the deceased MP was brought to his house in Jalandhar, Rahul visited and paid his condolences.

    The last rites of Chaudhary will be performed at his village tomorrow.

    A prominent Dalit leader Chaudhary had won the Lok Sabha seat from Jalandhar twice in 2014 and 2019 and earlier he remained state cabinet minister in the Capt Amarinder Singh Government. While his son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary is presently MLA from the Phillaur assembly constituency.

    Earlier in the morning, the yatra resumed from Ladhowal in Ludhiana as part of its Punjab leg.

    Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjjnder Singh Randhwa announced that the Yatra has been suspended for twenty-four hours in honour of Chaudhary. “The yatra will again start from Khalsa College in Jalandhar tomorrow afternoon after the cremation of Chaudhary and Rahul will attend the cremation tomorrow morning and today also go to the house of the deceased MP to pay his condolences,” they said.

    Ramesh said that they got this tragic news at around 9 am when they were walking and the yatra was immediately suspended.

    Randhawa said that it is a big loss to Congress as Chaudhary belonged to a family who has dedicated their entire life to the grand old party. “This is so sad that it happened just a few minutes after he was walking hail and hearty.”

    “The yatra has nothing to do with elections as this march is of a political party and not a yatra to win the elections as it is being taken out against economic disparities, social polarization and political dictatorship,” said Ramesh.

    He said that the congress will start a ‘Hath-Se-Hath Jodo’ campaign from January 26 to March 26 with the ensuing assembly elections in a few states this year and Lok Sabha elections of 2024 and it will cover 2.50 lakh panchayats in six lakh villages to take forward the message of this yatra and will give the ‘charge-sheet’ of this government to the public which we have prepared as this government failed to fulfil the promises it made.

    “This Hath-Se-Hath Jodo campaign which is directly linked to the elections will take the Bharat Jodo Yatra further but the Yatra is not directly linked to the polls but to an ideology,” said Ramesh and added that this campaign will be at three levels (block, district and state). Besides ‘Mahila Yatras’ within states will also be organized.

    When he was asked about the invitations sent for the January 30 program in Srinagar the day yatra ends, Ramesh said that to date the Congress president has sent invitations to 23 parties to join the Congress during the last leg of the yatra on January 30 which is the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi. Attacking a few political parties he said that the B, C and D teams of BJP have not been invited.

    “The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), ADMK, and BJD have not been invited. Only those parties which believe in Bharat Jodo Yatra have been invited for this meeting. As former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farook Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufi have been invited and there is no need to invite former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi as the leaders who have gone with him have already returned to congress fold,” he said.

    Meanwhile expressing his condolences, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted, “I am deeply saddened by the untimely death of Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chowdhury… May God rest his soul in peace.”

    Former Chief Minister and Ex-Congress leader Amarinder Singh also expressed his condolences, he tweeted, “Extremely saddened to hear about the sudden demise of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary ji due to a heart attack today. My heartfelt condolences are with his entire family in their time of grief. May Waheguru Ji grant eternal peace to the departed soul.”

    Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit has expressed his grief over Chaudhary’s death. “I am shocked at the sudden, untimely demise of Chaudhary ji. He was a dedicated and hardworking leader. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

    CHANDIGARH: The Bharat Jodo Yatra has been suspended for twenty-four hours due to the demise of 76-year-old Santokh Singh Chaudhary Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar today morning as he died of a heart attack during the Yatra of Rahul Gandhi in Phillaur.

    Sources said that as the yatra reached Phillur the two-time Member of Parliament came out with Rahul Gandhi from Kusht Ashram and then began walking with him. After a few minutes, he collapsed during the yatra and was rushed to Virk hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance where he was declared dead.

    The yatra was halted following Chaudhary’s death leading Rahul Gandhi to rush to the hospital. Later, when the body of the deceased MP was brought to his house in Jalandhar, Rahul visited and paid his condolences.

    The last rites of Chaudhary will be performed at his village tomorrow.

    A prominent Dalit leader Chaudhary had won the Lok Sabha seat from Jalandhar twice in 2014 and 2019 and earlier he remained state cabinet minister in the Capt Amarinder Singh Government. While his son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary is presently MLA from the Phillaur assembly constituency.

    Earlier in the morning, the yatra resumed from Ladhowal in Ludhiana as part of its Punjab leg.

    Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjjnder Singh Randhwa announced that the Yatra has been suspended for twenty-four hours in honour of Chaudhary. “The yatra will again start from Khalsa College in Jalandhar tomorrow afternoon after the cremation of Chaudhary and Rahul will attend the cremation tomorrow morning and today also go to the house of the deceased MP to pay his condolences,” they said.

    Ramesh said that they got this tragic news at around 9 am when they were walking and the yatra was immediately suspended.

    Randhawa said that it is a big loss to Congress as Chaudhary belonged to a family who has dedicated their entire life to the grand old party. “This is so sad that it happened just a few minutes after he was walking hail and hearty.”

    “The yatra has nothing to do with elections as this march is of a political party and not a yatra to win the elections as it is being taken out against economic disparities, social polarization and political dictatorship,” said Ramesh.

    He said that the congress will start a ‘Hath-Se-Hath Jodo’ campaign from January 26 to March 26 with the ensuing assembly elections in a few states this year and Lok Sabha elections of 2024 and it will cover 2.50 lakh panchayats in six lakh villages to take forward the message of this yatra and will give the ‘charge-sheet’ of this government to the public which we have prepared as this government failed to fulfil the promises it made.

    “This Hath-Se-Hath Jodo campaign which is directly linked to the elections will take the Bharat Jodo Yatra further but the Yatra is not directly linked to the polls but to an ideology,” said Ramesh and added that this campaign will be at three levels (block, district and state). Besides ‘Mahila Yatras’ within states will also be organized.

    When he was asked about the invitations sent for the January 30 program in Srinagar the day yatra ends, Ramesh said that to date the Congress president has sent invitations to 23 parties to join the Congress during the last leg of the yatra on January 30 which is the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi. Attacking a few political parties he said that the B, C and D teams of BJP have not been invited.

    “The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), ADMK, and BJD have not been invited. Only those parties which believe in Bharat Jodo Yatra have been invited for this meeting. As former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farook Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufi have been invited and there is no need to invite former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi as the leaders who have gone with him have already returned to congress fold,” he said.

    Meanwhile expressing his condolences, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted, “I am deeply saddened by the untimely death of Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chowdhury… May God rest his soul in peace.”

    Former Chief Minister and Ex-Congress leader Amarinder Singh also expressed his condolences, he tweeted, “Extremely saddened to hear about the sudden demise of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary ji due to a heart attack today. My heartfelt condolences are with his entire family in their time of grief. May Waheguru Ji grant eternal peace to the departed soul.”

    Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit has expressed his grief over Chaudhary’s death. “I am shocked at the sudden, untimely demise of Chaudhary ji. He was a dedicated and hardworking leader. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

  • Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary dies during Bharat Jodo Yatra

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Congress’ Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, following which the march was halted.

    He was 76. The two-time MP was taking part in the Rahul Gandhi-led march in Phillaur in Jalandhar where he fainted, said senior party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who was also marching in the yatra.

    He said Chaudhary was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance. The yatra was halted following Chaudhary’s death and it is learnt that Gandhi has gone to the hospital.

    Earlier in the morning, the yatra resumed from Ladhowal in Ludhiana as part of its Punjab leg. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed grief over the death of the Congress MP.

    “I am deeply saddened at the untimely death of Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chaudhary,” he said in a tweet in Punjabi.

    Former Congress leader Amarinder Singh also condoled Chaudhary’s death.

    “Extremely saddened to hear about the sudden demise of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary ji due to a heart attack today. My heartfelt condolences are with his entire family in their time of grief. May Waheguru Ji grant eternal peace to the departed soul,” said Singh in his tweet.

    Several Congress leaders have gone to the hospital. The Punjab leg of the march begun on Wednesday from Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib.

    Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of our MP, Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary.His loss is a great blow to the party and organisation.In this hour of grief, my heart goes out to his family, friends and followers.May his soul rest in peace.
    — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 14, 2023

    CHANDIGARH: Congress’ Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, following which the march was halted.

    He was 76. The two-time MP was taking part in the Rahul Gandhi-led march in Phillaur in Jalandhar where he fainted, said senior party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who was also marching in the yatra.

    He said Chaudhary was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance. The yatra was halted following Chaudhary’s death and it is learnt that Gandhi has gone to the hospital.

    Earlier in the morning, the yatra resumed from Ladhowal in Ludhiana as part of its Punjab leg. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed grief over the death of the Congress MP.

    “I am deeply saddened at the untimely death of Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chaudhary,” he said in a tweet in Punjabi.

    Former Congress leader Amarinder Singh also condoled Chaudhary’s death.

    “Extremely saddened to hear about the sudden demise of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary ji due to a heart attack today. My heartfelt condolences are with his entire family in their time of grief. May Waheguru Ji grant eternal peace to the departed soul,” said Singh in his tweet.

    Several Congress leaders have gone to the hospital. The Punjab leg of the march begun on Wednesday from Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib.

    Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of our MP, Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary.
    His loss is a great blow to the party and organisation.
    In this hour of grief, my heart goes out to his family, friends and followers.
    May his soul rest in peace.
    — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 14, 2023

  • Congress believes in ‘tapasya’, BJP is a ‘pooja’ organisation: Rahul Gandhi in Kurukshetra

    By PTI

    KURUKSHETRA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the Bharat Jodo Yatra was against hatred and fear being spread in society as well as unemployment and inflation.

    On the Yatra, Gandhi said, “We are seeing it as “tapasya”, suggesting the foot march was about austerity and self-meditation. The Congress believes in ‘tapasya’ while the BJP is an organisation of “pooja.”

    The BJP and the RSS do not respect ‘tapasya’ but want that people who do their ‘pooja’ (worship) be respected only, he added.

    Gandhi said the Yatra’s purpose is also to let people hear the true voice of the country.

    Replying to a question, Gandhi said, “One thing which I have understood is that this fight is actually not political, superficially it is political fight. When we fight BSP or TRS, then it is a political contest. But there has been change in the country.”

    The day when the RSS controlled the institutions of this country, the fight did not remain political.

    “Now, this has become a different fight. You may call it a fight of ideology, dharam ki fight, or you can give it any framework, but this is not a political fight. If you look at Congress party’s history, what you (reporter) said there is an energy in workers. It is an organisation of ‘tapasya’”, he said he addressing the media here.

    “BJP is a ‘sangthan of pooja’, ” he claimed, adding both the BJP and the RSS want people to “worship” them.

    “RSS wants they be forcibly worshipped. (PM Narendra) Modi ji wants this, that is why he does not meet you (media), that he be worshipped forcibly and all people in the country should worship him,” Gandhi alleged.

    He said the Congress’ response is only one and it is ‘tapasya’ and nothing else.

    OPINION | The Laal Singh Chaddha moment in Indian politics

    “That is why this Yatra is successful. Because not only the Congress or one individual is doing ‘tapasya’, lakhs are doing ‘tapasya’, it is the message of yatra,” Gandhi said.

    He said there should be respect of ‘tapasya’, of skill and work.

    He further said, “The BJP and the RSS say there should not be respect of ‘tapasya’ and those who do their ‘pooja’ (worship), only they should be respected. Did demonetisation respect the ‘tapasya’ of the poor? Certainly not. It was an attack on ‘tapasya.”

    “The BJP and the RSS are taking the country towards ‘forced pooja’ using of wealth, capturing institutions and making people fear,” Gandhi alleged.

    The former Congress president also took on the BJP-led Centre on the issue of “plight” of the farmers.

    “A farmer is being cornered from every side,” he said and pointed out that the farmers were hit by fuel and urea prices.

    The backbone of the country, which is feeding us, is being attacked, he charged.

    Talking about the Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march, which is currently passing through Haryana, Gandhi said it has received an overwhelming response and he got to learn many things during the course of the journey so far.

    “What is in the country’s heart got to hear that directly (interacting with people). The Yatra has received good response in Haryana — it is energetic, enthusiastic response,” he said.

    OPINION | Rahul’s beard of self-discovery

    In an attack on the critics of the Yatra, Gandhi said when it was started, “People said the response which we got in Kerala, we won’t get that in Karnataka, which is a BJP-ruled state. But we got even better response there. Then they said the Yatra got response in south India, but when it reaches Maharashtra, it won’t get that response. When we reached Maharashtra, we got even better response than the south”.

    “Then it was said we will not get good response when the Yatra passes through the Hindi belt, but in Madhya Pradesh there was even more improvement to the response. When we reached Haryana, it was said it is a BJP-ruled state, but here too the response was overwhelming. As we are moving forward, the response is improving,” he said.

    Replying to a question, Gandhi said, “The voice of India which is being suppressed, the fear which is being spread and India which is being divided, one caste being put up against the other, one religion being put up against the other, this Yatra is against that.”

    There is other purpose of this Yatra that we are seeing, it as “tapasya”, he added.

    “We love our country, we love our people, farmers, poor and we want to walk with them. So, Yatra’s purpose is also that people of this country get to hear true voice of the country,” the Congress leader said.

    He said there is economic inequality in the country and wealth, media and other institutions are being controlled by a few people.

    This Yatra is against unemployment, inflation, he added.

    On farmers’ issues, Gandhi said, “Farmers are being cornered from all sides. They are directly hit by fuel prices and urea prices and not getting insurance claims.”

    The three farm laws (now repealed) were not the farm laws.

    They were weapons to hit them (farmers), like demonetisation and wrong GST were weapons to hit small traders, he further said.

    The Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, will end with Gandhi hoisting the national flag in Srinagar on January 30.

    The march has so far covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

    KURUKSHETRA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the Bharat Jodo Yatra was against hatred and fear being spread in society as well as unemployment and inflation.

    On the Yatra, Gandhi said, “We are seeing it as “tapasya”, suggesting the foot march was about austerity and self-meditation. The Congress believes in ‘tapasya’ while the BJP is an organisation of “pooja.”

    The BJP and the RSS do not respect ‘tapasya’ but want that people who do their ‘pooja’ (worship) be respected only, he added.

    Gandhi said the Yatra’s purpose is also to let people hear the true voice of the country.

    Replying to a question, Gandhi said, “One thing which I have understood is that this fight is actually not political, superficially it is political fight. When we fight BSP or TRS, then it is a political contest. But there has been change in the country.”

    The day when the RSS controlled the institutions of this country, the fight did not remain political.

    “Now, this has become a different fight. You may call it a fight of ideology, dharam ki fight, or you can give it any framework, but this is not a political fight. If you look at Congress party’s history, what you (reporter) said there is an energy in workers. It is an organisation of ‘tapasya’”, he said he addressing the media here.

    “BJP is a ‘sangthan of pooja’, ” he claimed, adding both the BJP and the RSS want people to “worship” them.

    “RSS wants they be forcibly worshipped. (PM Narendra) Modi ji wants this, that is why he does not meet you (media), that he be worshipped forcibly and all people in the country should worship him,” Gandhi alleged.

    He said the Congress’ response is only one and it is ‘tapasya’ and nothing else.

    OPINION | The Laal Singh Chaddha moment in Indian politics

    “That is why this Yatra is successful. Because not only the Congress or one individual is doing ‘tapasya’, lakhs are doing ‘tapasya’, it is the message of yatra,” Gandhi said.

    He said there should be respect of ‘tapasya’, of skill and work.

    He further said, “The BJP and the RSS say there should not be respect of ‘tapasya’ and those who do their ‘pooja’ (worship), only they should be respected. Did demonetisation respect the ‘tapasya’ of the poor? Certainly not. It was an attack on ‘tapasya.”

    “The BJP and the RSS are taking the country towards ‘forced pooja’ using of wealth, capturing institutions and making people fear,” Gandhi alleged.

    The former Congress president also took on the BJP-led Centre on the issue of “plight” of the farmers.

    “A farmer is being cornered from every side,” he said and pointed out that the farmers were hit by fuel and urea prices.

    The backbone of the country, which is feeding us, is being attacked, he charged.

    Talking about the Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march, which is currently passing through Haryana, Gandhi said it has received an overwhelming response and he got to learn many things during the course of the journey so far.

    “What is in the country’s heart got to hear that directly (interacting with people). The Yatra has received good response in Haryana — it is energetic, enthusiastic response,” he said.

    OPINION | Rahul’s beard of self-discovery

    In an attack on the critics of the Yatra, Gandhi said when it was started, “People said the response which we got in Kerala, we won’t get that in Karnataka, which is a BJP-ruled state. But we got even better response there. Then they said the Yatra got response in south India, but when it reaches Maharashtra, it won’t get that response. When we reached Maharashtra, we got even better response than the south”.

    “Then it was said we will not get good response when the Yatra passes through the Hindi belt, but in Madhya Pradesh there was even more improvement to the response. When we reached Haryana, it was said it is a BJP-ruled state, but here too the response was overwhelming. As we are moving forward, the response is improving,” he said.

    Replying to a question, Gandhi said, “The voice of India which is being suppressed, the fear which is being spread and India which is being divided, one caste being put up against the other, one religion being put up against the other, this Yatra is against that.”

    There is other purpose of this Yatra that we are seeing, it as “tapasya”, he added.

    “We love our country, we love our people, farmers, poor and we want to walk with them. So, Yatra’s purpose is also that people of this country get to hear true voice of the country,” the Congress leader said.

    He said there is economic inequality in the country and wealth, media and other institutions are being controlled by a few people.

    This Yatra is against unemployment, inflation, he added.

    On farmers’ issues, Gandhi said, “Farmers are being cornered from all sides. They are directly hit by fuel prices and urea prices and not getting insurance claims.”

    The three farm laws (now repealed) were not the farm laws.

    They were weapons to hit them (farmers), like demonetisation and wrong GST were weapons to hit small traders, he further said.

    The Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, will end with Gandhi hoisting the national flag in Srinagar on January 30.

    The march has so far covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

  • No one can oppose Rahul’s yatra, says Ram temple trust general secretary 

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  A day after Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, extended his support to the Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Champat Rai, general secretary of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, also heaped praise on the Congress leader.

    While talking to this reporter, Champat Rai said that the yatra should be praised as it was for a good cause of uniting the nation. “I am associated with the RSS. The Sangh Parivar has never condemned the yatra. There is nothing wrong with it. No one can oppose it,” said Rai on Wednesday.

    Rai, who called Rahul the young man walking for the country, was joined by the treasurer of the temple trust, Govind Dev Giri, in appreciating Rahul Gandhi’s efforts. “The country must remain united. I pray to Lord Ram to bless him (Rahul Gandhi).”

    ALSO READ | Appreciate Rahul Gandhi for Bharat Jodo Yatra: Ram Mandir Trust Secretary

    The Congress sent invitations to many saints and seers, including Acharya Satyendra Das, of Ayodhya to be a part of the yatra. However, the Ram temple head priest expressed his inability to join the yatra, but issued a letter wishing luck to Rahul. On Wednesday, the yatra resumed its journey at 6 am after a night halt at Mavikalan village in Baghpat on Tuesday. The Yatra reached Shamli by evening and halted at Ailum town in the district.

    Senior Congress leaders, including former Union minister Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid, UP Congress chief Brijlal Khabri, former state chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, and a few leaders of Rashtriya Lok Dal, were also present in the Yatra.

    LUCKNOW:  A day after Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, extended his support to the Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Champat Rai, general secretary of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, also heaped praise on the Congress leader.

    While talking to this reporter, Champat Rai said that the yatra should be praised as it was for a good cause of uniting the nation. “I am associated with the RSS. The Sangh Parivar has never condemned the yatra. There is nothing wrong with it. No one can oppose it,” said Rai on Wednesday.

    Rai, who called Rahul the young man walking for the country, was joined by the treasurer of the temple trust, Govind Dev Giri, in appreciating Rahul Gandhi’s efforts. “The country must remain united. I pray to Lord Ram to bless him (Rahul Gandhi).”

    ALSO READ | Appreciate Rahul Gandhi for Bharat Jodo Yatra: Ram Mandir Trust Secretary

    The Congress sent invitations to many saints and seers, including Acharya Satyendra Das, of Ayodhya to be a part of the yatra. However, the Ram temple head priest expressed his inability to join the yatra, but issued a letter wishing luck to Rahul. On Wednesday, the yatra resumed its journey at 6 am after a night halt at Mavikalan village in Baghpat on Tuesday. The Yatra reached Shamli by evening and halted at Ailum town in the district.

    Senior Congress leaders, including former Union minister Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid, UP Congress chief Brijlal Khabri, former state chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, and a few leaders of Rashtriya Lok Dal, were also present in the Yatra.