News Analysis India

Tag: Bharat-Jodo Yatra

  • Rahul calls Kerala second home, to pen book on Bharat Jodo Yatra

    Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress former president Rahul Gandhi has termed Kerala his “second home” on seeing the huge public response to his Bharat Jodo Yatra. As the Kerala leg of the yatra after traversing 540km through eight districts completed on Thursday morning, the Gandhi scion wrote in his Facebook page, “Home is where you get love, and Kerala is home for me. No matter how much affection I give, I always get more in return from the people here…”

    Rahul Gandhi has recorded the important developments during his padayatra as part of a plan to write a book on the mission he has undertaken. On Thursday, he and his entourage had to walk only 8km from Marthoma College Junction, Chungathara, Nilambur, before crossing over to Gudalur in Tamil Nadu on his way to Karnataka.

    On the eve of the culmination of the yatra in Nilambur, Rahul Gandhi convened a special meeting of the Congress state leaders who had taken part in the walk in the last 18 days. At the meeting at Wandoor, Rahul Gandhi specially congratulated senior Congress MP K Muraleedharan who he termed “Number 1” and UDF convener M M Hassan “Number 2” who walked along with him for the maximum distance.

    He posted a video of him interacting with the leaders which revealed how he had continued the arduous walk despite having a knee problem. Rahul Gandhi took out a piece of paper from his trouser pocket and read out a note written by a small girl to him, “With hardship, there has to be eased.” He further added, “I’m thinking of hardship, hardship, hardship and it has to be eased. Somebody (the girl) has now come and helped me in my most difficult time. Every time, I had trouble, somebody from the public or somebody from here (Kerala leaders) came and pulled me out of the trouble.”

    Hassan who walked along with him for 11 days recalled how Rahul Gandhi had hugged him and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala which was a solemn moment before he bade adieu at Vazhimukku.“When Rahul Gandhi asked us to share our experiences before the camera on the padayatra, the political aspects and the reaction of the people, some of us were shy, but he implored us to speak without any inhibition as it would be edited properly. It was then that we were told that Rahul Gandhi was penning a book on his historical Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Hassan told TNIE.

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress former president Rahul Gandhi has termed Kerala his “second home” on seeing the huge public response to his Bharat Jodo Yatra. As the Kerala leg of the yatra after traversing 540km through eight districts completed on Thursday morning, the Gandhi scion wrote in his Facebook page, “Home is where you get love, and Kerala is home for me. No matter how much affection I give, I always get more in return from the people here…”

    Rahul Gandhi has recorded the important developments during his padayatra as part of a plan to write a book on the mission he has undertaken. On Thursday, he and his entourage had to walk only 8km from Marthoma College Junction, Chungathara, Nilambur, before crossing over to Gudalur in Tamil Nadu on his way to Karnataka.

    On the eve of the culmination of the yatra in Nilambur, Rahul Gandhi convened a special meeting of the Congress state leaders who had taken part in the walk in the last 18 days. At the meeting at Wandoor, Rahul Gandhi specially congratulated senior Congress MP K Muraleedharan who he termed “Number 1” and UDF convener M M Hassan “Number 2” who walked along with him for the maximum distance.

    He posted a video of him interacting with the leaders which revealed how he had continued the arduous walk despite having a knee problem. Rahul Gandhi took out a piece of paper from his trouser pocket and read out a note written by a small girl to him, “With hardship, there has to be eased.” He further added, “I’m thinking of hardship, hardship, hardship and it has to be eased. Somebody (the girl) has now come and helped me in my most difficult time. Every time, I had trouble, somebody from the public or somebody from here (Kerala leaders) came and pulled me out of the trouble.”

    Hassan who walked along with him for 11 days recalled how Rahul Gandhi had hugged him and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala which was a solemn moment before he bade adieu at Vazhimukku.
    “When Rahul Gandhi asked us to share our experiences before the camera on the padayatra, the political aspects and the reaction of the people, some of us were shy, but he implored us to speak without any inhibition as it would be edited properly. It was then that we were told that Rahul Gandhi was penning a book on his historical Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Hassan told TNIE.

  • BJP treats women as second-class citizens: Rahul Gandhi

    By Express News Service

    MALAPPURAM: The BJP is treating women as second-class citizens, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said. He was speaking at a public meeting held as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra at Pandikkad in Malappuram on Tuesday. He criticised the BJP citing the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand. He said the only reason the teen had to die was that she had refused to be a prostitute.

    “A BJP leader runs a hotel. His son asks a receptionist at that hotel to become a prostitute. There are messages on her WhatsApp in which she refuses to become a prostitute. They offered Rs 10,000 to Rs 15000 to become a prostitute. When she refused to become a prostitute, she was found dead in a lake. This is the way the BJP treats women in the country.

    The chief minister of that state destroyed the evidence in the case. They destroyed the hotel so that nobody could ever find out what happened. This is the ideology of the BJP. Women are second-class citizens for them,” Rahul Gandhi said.

    HC DISMISSES PLEA AGAINST BHARAT JODO YATRAKOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking a directive to the state police chief to regulate the Bharat Jodo Yatra by permitting party workers to occupy only half of the road and leave the other portion for the free movement of vehicles and the public. When the petition filed by K Vijayan of Kollam came up before the bench, government pleader submitted that the journey was passing peacefully through the roads in the state.

    MALAPPURAM: The BJP is treating women as second-class citizens, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said. He was speaking at a public meeting held as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra at Pandikkad in Malappuram on Tuesday. He criticised the BJP citing the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand. He said the only reason the teen had to die was that she had refused to be a prostitute.

    “A BJP leader runs a hotel. His son asks a receptionist at that hotel to become a prostitute. There are messages on her WhatsApp in which she refuses to become a prostitute. They offered Rs 10,000 to Rs 15000 to become a prostitute. When she refused to become a prostitute, she was found dead in a lake. This is the way the BJP treats women in the country.

    The chief minister of that state destroyed the evidence in the case. They destroyed the hotel so that nobody could ever find out what happened. This is the ideology of the BJP. Women are second-class citizens for them,” Rahul Gandhi said.

    HC DISMISSES PLEA AGAINST BHARAT JODO YATRA
    KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking a directive to the state police chief to regulate the Bharat Jodo Yatra by permitting party workers to occupy only half of the road and leave the other portion for the free movement of vehicles and the public. When the petition filed by K Vijayan of Kollam came up before the bench, government pleader submitted that the journey was passing peacefully through the roads in the state.

  • Raj drama intensifies: Tharoor meets Rahul for nod as official pick for Congress president

    Express News Service

    T’PURAM/PALAKKAD: A day after the start of the political drama in Rajasthan that could result in Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot pulling out of the Congress presidential poll, focus has once again shifted to Shashi Tharoor. With Gehlot loyalists delivering a shock to the high command on Sunday by threatening to resign against its move to name Sachin Pilot as the CM’s successor, Tharoor, the Thiruvananthapuram MP, on Monday rushed to Pattambi in Palakkad to accompany Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and sought his clearance to be the official candidate.

    Tharoor flew to Kochi and went to Pattambi by road. His impromptu trip caught even senior Congress leaders in the district by surprise. Before he joined Rahul for the padayatra, Tharoor told reporters that the Gandhi family had no objections to his candidature.

    “I spoke with Rahul Gandhi over the phone. All three members of the Gandhi family have extended their support. There have also been requests from several states for my candidature. So, I have decided to throw my hat in the ring. You will know who are backing me when I submit my nomination on September 30,” he said.

    Tharoor confirmed that he will submit his nomination papers on Friday, the last day, after collecting signatures of 10 Congress office-bearers from across the country. Saying he had elicited both support and opposition from Kerala, Tharoor termed it normal and a healthy sign in a democracy.

    ‘I feel more candidates should participate’

    On Gehlot’s candidature, Tharoor said, “As a candidate, one should be able to face an opponent with confidence. In my opinion, more candidates should participate. Unlike other parties, there is indeed internal democracy in Congress.”

    Party sources from New Delhi confirmed to TNIE that the trip was Tharoor’s final attempt to convince the Congress leadership about his intention to contest as the official candidate.“The high command is still not convinced that Tharoor is a serious candidate. He may share a close rapport with the Gandhi family, but that does not necessarily stand him in good stead. He is yet to attain the political stature of other senior leaders like Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mukul Wasnik and Sushil Kumar Shinde whose names are also doing the rounds for the Congress presidential election,” said a source.

    The election, if required, would be held on October 17 and the results will be declared on October 19.Meanwhile, Congress national general secretary (organization) K C Venugopal rushed from Pattambi to New Delhi after Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi summoned him to resolve the imbroglio created by Gehlot.

    T’PURAM/PALAKKAD: A day after the start of the political drama in Rajasthan that could result in Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot pulling out of the Congress presidential poll, focus has once again shifted to Shashi Tharoor. With Gehlot loyalists delivering a shock to the high command on Sunday by threatening to resign against its move to name Sachin Pilot as the CM’s successor, Tharoor, the Thiruvananthapuram MP, on Monday rushed to Pattambi in Palakkad to accompany Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and sought his clearance to be the official candidate.

    Tharoor flew to Kochi and went to Pattambi by road. His impromptu trip caught even senior Congress leaders in the district by surprise. Before he joined Rahul for the padayatra, Tharoor told reporters that the Gandhi family had no objections to his candidature.

    “I spoke with Rahul Gandhi over the phone. All three members of the Gandhi family have extended their support. There have also been requests from several states for my candidature. So, I have decided to throw my hat in the ring. You will know who are backing me when I submit my nomination on September 30,” he said.

    Tharoor confirmed that he will submit his nomination papers on Friday, the last day, after collecting signatures of 10 Congress office-bearers from across the country. Saying he had elicited both support and opposition from Kerala, Tharoor termed it normal and a healthy sign in a democracy.

    ‘I feel more candidates should participate’

    On Gehlot’s candidature, Tharoor said, “As a candidate, one should be able to face an opponent with confidence. In my opinion, more candidates should participate. Unlike other parties, there is indeed internal democracy in Congress.”

    Party sources from New Delhi confirmed to TNIE that the trip was Tharoor’s final attempt to convince the Congress leadership about his intention to contest as the official candidate.“The high command is still not convinced that Tharoor is a serious candidate. He may share a close rapport with the Gandhi family, but that does not necessarily stand him in good stead. He is yet to attain the political stature of other senior leaders like Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mukul Wasnik and Sushil Kumar Shinde whose names are also doing the rounds for the Congress presidential election,” said a source.

    The election, if required, would be held on October 17 and the results will be declared on October 19.
    Meanwhile, Congress national general secretary (organization) K C Venugopal rushed from Pattambi to New Delhi after Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi summoned him to resolve the imbroglio created by Gehlot.

  • Bharat Jodo Yatra faces task of sustaining tempo after Kerala leg

    Express News Service

    KOCHI: As Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra completed 15 days on the road, with hundreds of people walking 325km from Kanyakumari since September 7,  there is visible momentum on the ground for the Congress and it will attract more people and eyeballs at least for another three days when the yatra is in Kerala. But the big question is whether this yatra, which is termed ‘historic’ by the party leaders, will gather pace and momentum when it enters the BJP terrains of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh as the padayatra progresses. Also, there have been questions on why the yatra, which is aimed to unify the people against the “communal and divisive forces”, is taking full 18 days in Kerala, where BJP has zero representation in the state assembly. “As far as we are concerned, CPM is the ‘B’ team of BJP, and Congress is the Opposition party in Kerala,” Jairam Ramesh, MP and party general secretary in charge of communication.

    Rahul himself addressed the question of CPM’s criticism that the yatra is spending lesser time in Uttar Pradesh. “The reason is that the yatra is from one end of India to another end. So, we are not going to Bihar, we are not going to West Bengal and we are not going to Gujarat. There is a limit to the route that we can take,” he said. As far as countering BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul said Congress has a view on what needs to be done in the state.

    Leaders pointed out that the 3,750km padayatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar is the longest undertaken by the Congress in the history of the country, and the party machinery in Karnataka is pretty strong to ensure that the momentum is maintained. The yatra will tour Karnataka for 21 days, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for 16 days each, and Rajasthan for 21 days, as per the schedule.

    Former Karnataka minister and Congress leader K J George pointed out that Kerala is a small state “like a corporation” whereas it will be difficult to get such a large number of people throughout the route in Karnataka. “Karnataka is so vast and the yatra is touring rural areas of the state. We had recently conducted massive rallies and another flag march on August 15,” he said.

    Ajay Kumar Lallu, former UP Congress president, who’s a full-time member of the yatra, expressed the confidence that the march will get a warm reception in the BJP-ruled state, where it is touring only for five days.

    Rahul, responding to this query, said, “My expectation is that it will not matter which state we go to. The effect of the yatra will be the same in state after state regardless of who is running that state because there is an underlining problem now in India and the people of India, particularly the youth, are feeling tremendous pain.”

    KOCHI: As Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra completed 15 days on the road, with hundreds of people walking 325km from Kanyakumari since September 7,  there is visible momentum on the ground for the Congress and it will attract more people and eyeballs at least for another three days when the yatra is in Kerala. But the big question is whether this yatra, which is termed ‘historic’ by the party leaders, will gather pace and momentum when it enters the BJP terrains of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh as the padayatra progresses. Also, there have been questions on why the yatra, which is aimed to unify the people against the “communal and divisive forces”, is taking full 18 days in Kerala, where BJP has zero representation in the state assembly. “As far as we are concerned, CPM is the ‘B’ team of BJP, and Congress is the Opposition party in Kerala,” Jairam Ramesh, MP and party general secretary in charge of communication.

    Rahul himself addressed the question of CPM’s criticism that the yatra is spending lesser time in Uttar Pradesh. “The reason is that the yatra is from one end of India to another end. So, we are not going to Bihar, we are not going to West Bengal and we are not going to Gujarat. There is a limit to the route that we can take,” he said. As far as countering BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul said Congress has a view on what needs to be done in the state.

    Leaders pointed out that the 3,750km padayatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar is the longest undertaken by the Congress in the history of the country, and the party machinery in Karnataka is pretty strong to ensure that the momentum is maintained. The yatra will tour Karnataka for 21 days, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for 16 days each, and Rajasthan for 21 days, as per the schedule.

    Former Karnataka minister and Congress leader K J George pointed out that Kerala is a small state “like a corporation” whereas it will be difficult to get such a large number of people throughout the route in Karnataka. “Karnataka is so vast and the yatra is touring rural areas of the state. We had recently conducted massive rallies and another flag march on August 15,” he said.

    Ajay Kumar Lallu, former UP Congress president, who’s a full-time member of the yatra, expressed the confidence that the march will get a warm reception in the BJP-ruled state, where it is touring only for five days.

    Rahul, responding to this query, said, “My expectation is that it will not matter which state we go to. The effect of the yatra will be the same in state after state regardless of who is running that state because there is an underlining problem now in India and the people of India, particularly the youth, are feeling tremendous pain.”

  • Rahul Gandhi’s ‘one man, one post’ remark, hint for Gehlot

    By PTI

    KOCHI: With the Congress presidential polls round the corner, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said decisions, including that of one-man, one-post, taken at the chintan shivir at Udaipur in Rajasthan earlier this year are expected to be followed.

    Responding to queries during a press conference held between the first and second leg of the day’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said the Congress president was not just an organisational position, it is an ideological post and a belief system.

    “What we decided at Udaipur, we expect that commitment to be maintained,” Gandhi said on being asked whether he would stand by the Udaipur chintan shivir decision on one-man, one-post.

    Gandhi, also the MP from Wayanad, said he would advise whosoever becomes the president of the party that they should remember that the post represents a set of ideas, a belief system and a vision of India.

    Another piece of advice he had for the contestants in the party’s presidential polls was that “you are taking a historic position. A position that defines and has defined a particular view of India.”

    On the nationwide raids on the offices and other premises of the Popular Front of India (PFI), Gandhi said that “all forms of communalism regardless where they come from should be combated.”

    “There should be zero tolerance towards communalism and it should be combated,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived in Kerala amidst speculation as to who all would be contesting the party’s presidential polls.

    KOCHI: With the Congress presidential polls round the corner, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said decisions, including that of one-man, one-post, taken at the chintan shivir at Udaipur in Rajasthan earlier this year are expected to be followed.

    Responding to queries during a press conference held between the first and second leg of the day’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said the Congress president was not just an organisational position, it is an ideological post and a belief system.

    “What we decided at Udaipur, we expect that commitment to be maintained,” Gandhi said on being asked whether he would stand by the Udaipur chintan shivir decision on one-man, one-post.

    Gandhi, also the MP from Wayanad, said he would advise whosoever becomes the president of the party that they should remember that the post represents a set of ideas, a belief system and a vision of India.

    Another piece of advice he had for the contestants in the party’s presidential polls was that “you are taking a historic position. A position that defines and has defined a particular view of India.”

    On the nationwide raids on the offices and other premises of the Popular Front of India (PFI), Gandhi said that “all forms of communalism regardless where they come from should be combated.”

    “There should be zero tolerance towards communalism and it should be combated,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived in Kerala amidst speculation as to who all would be contesting the party’s presidential polls.

  • Public rebuke? Rahul Gandhi drops ‘one man, one post’ hint for Gehlot

    By PTI

    KOCHI: With the Congress presidential polls round the corner, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said decisions, including that of one-man, one-post, taken at the chintan shivir at Udaipur in Rajasthan earlier this year are expected to be followed.

    Responding to queries during a press conference held between the first and second leg of the day’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said the Congress president was not just an organisational position, it is an ideological post and a belief system.

    “What we decided at Udaipur, we expect that commitment to be maintained,” Gandhi said on being asked whether he would stand by the Udaipur chintan shivir decision on one-man, one-post.

    ALSO READ | Flowing with the river: Reflections from the Yatra

    Gandhi, also the MP from Wayanad, said he would advise whosoever becomes the president of the party that they should remember that the post represents a set of ideas, a belief system and a vision of India.

    Another piece of advice he had for the contestants in the party’s presidential polls was that “you are taking a historic position. A position that defines and has defined a particular view of India.”

    On the nationwide raids on the offices and other premises of the Popular Front of India (PFI), Gandhi said that “all forms of communalism regardless where they come from should be combated.”

    “There should be zero tolerance towards communalism and it should be combated,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived in Kerala amidst speculation as to who all would be contesting the party’s presidential polls.

    KOCHI: With the Congress presidential polls round the corner, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said decisions, including that of one-man, one-post, taken at the chintan shivir at Udaipur in Rajasthan earlier this year are expected to be followed.

    Responding to queries during a press conference held between the first and second leg of the day’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said the Congress president was not just an organisational position, it is an ideological post and a belief system.

    “What we decided at Udaipur, we expect that commitment to be maintained,” Gandhi said on being asked whether he would stand by the Udaipur chintan shivir decision on one-man, one-post.

    ALSO READ | Flowing with the river: Reflections from the Yatra

    Gandhi, also the MP from Wayanad, said he would advise whosoever becomes the president of the party that they should remember that the post represents a set of ideas, a belief system and a vision of India.

    Another piece of advice he had for the contestants in the party’s presidential polls was that “you are taking a historic position. A position that defines and has defined a particular view of India.”

    On the nationwide raids on the offices and other premises of the Popular Front of India (PFI), Gandhi said that “all forms of communalism regardless where they come from should be combated.”

    “There should be zero tolerance towards communalism and it should be combated,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived in Kerala amidst speculation as to who all would be contesting the party’s presidential polls.

  • RSS spreading hate, people don’t want such India: Rahul Gandhi

    By Express News Service

    KOCHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came down heavily on the BJP and Sangh Parivar on Wednesday, saying they are spreading hate and dividing the country, but the citizens do not want such an India. He said as prime minister, Narendra Modi’s job was to clear the decks for the biggest businessmen in the country. Rahul was addressing a public meeting at Aluva, at the conclusion of the day’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    The yatra, which entered the Ernakulam district earlier in the day, evoked an overwhelming response from the supporters and workers alike. Hundreds thronged the highway to greet Rahul.“The prime minister’s job is to clear the way for the biggest businessmen in the country. And the way he does it is by dividing India — by making a brother fight with another brother, by creating hatred among the states, religions and regions of this country. The idea is to make them angry and violent because when you’re angry, you can’t see what’s happening to you,” he said.

    “Bharat Jodo Yatra’s first message is that we won’t accept an India that’s divided with hatred and violence that the BJP and RSS are spreading. The second message is that we will not accept an India which is unfair to a large majority of people. We will not accept an India where millions and millions of youth cannot find a job, but beg for it and die by suicide for not getting one. We won’t accept an India where parents spend their entire lives working to send their children to school, college, or university to be told that they will not get a job. We won’t accept an India where the vast majority of our people are drowning in high prices,” he said.

    “This anger, this hatred the BJP and Sangh are spreading is not India. It’s arrogance and cowardice while the real India is humble and brave,” he said. “Modi takes away everything that’s yours and gives it to his crony capital friends. These friends of his control the entire media, they fill all the channels with his images and visuals. That’s how they control any business they want. The result is that your money has gone into the pockets of one man who’s the second richest in the country,” added Rahul.

    “The only country in the world which fought against its biggest oppressor with kindness and non-violence is this country,” he said.The day started with Rahul paying floral tributes to Sree Narayana Guru at Kumbalam. Congress leader Sachin Pilot rejoined the yatra and trekked to Edappally. In the afternoon, Rahul interacted with representatives of Kochi’s IT sector, transgender community and Kerala Congress Joseph faction leaders.

    KOCHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came down heavily on the BJP and Sangh Parivar on Wednesday, saying they are spreading hate and dividing the country, but the citizens do not want such an India. He said as prime minister, Narendra Modi’s job was to clear the decks for the biggest businessmen in the country. Rahul was addressing a public meeting at Aluva, at the conclusion of the day’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    The yatra, which entered the Ernakulam district earlier in the day, evoked an overwhelming response from the supporters and workers alike. Hundreds thronged the highway to greet Rahul.“The prime minister’s job is to clear the way for the biggest businessmen in the country. And the way he does it is by dividing India — by making a brother fight with another brother, by creating hatred among the states, religions and regions of this country. The idea is to make them angry and violent because when you’re angry, you can’t see what’s happening to you,” he said.

    “Bharat Jodo Yatra’s first message is that we won’t accept an India that’s divided with hatred and violence that the BJP and RSS are spreading. The second message is that we will not accept an India which is unfair to a large majority of people. We will not accept an India where millions and millions of youth cannot find a job, but beg for it and die by suicide for not getting one. We won’t accept an India where parents spend their entire lives working to send their children to school, college, or university to be told that they will not get a job. We won’t accept an India where the vast majority of our people are drowning in high prices,” he said.

    “This anger, this hatred the BJP and Sangh are spreading is not India. It’s arrogance and cowardice while the real India is humble and brave,” he said. “Modi takes away everything that’s yours and gives it to his crony capital friends. These friends of his control the entire media, they fill all the channels with his images and visuals. That’s how they control any business they want. The result is that your money has gone into the pockets of one man who’s the second richest in the country,” added Rahul.

    “The only country in the world which fought against its biggest oppressor with kindness and non-violence is this country,” he said.The day started with Rahul paying floral tributes to Sree Narayana Guru at Kumbalam. Congress leader Sachin Pilot rejoined the yatra and trekked to Edappally. In the afternoon, Rahul interacted with representatives of Kochi’s IT sector, transgender community and Kerala Congress Joseph faction leaders.

  • If Rahul takes break to visit Delhi, it’s not to file AICC president nomination: Jairam Ramesh

    By Express News Service

    KOCHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has dismissed reports that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra, is set to leave Kerala and head to New Delhi to meet party president Sonia Gandhi to discuss organisational issues as the notification for the election of Congress president will come on Thursday. Ramesh insisted that Rahul will be part of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 24 to October 31 as per schedule.

    The nomination for the Congress presidential election will begin on September 24. So, speculation is rife that Rahul will leave for Delhi and file his nomination as several state Congress Committees have passed resolutions in favour of him.

    Opinion | The Congress Rahul walks away from

    “Every seven days, the yatra will have a break. September 23 is a rest day. For the past two-and-a-half weeks, he could not meet his mother who is ailing. He may be going to see his mother, who is ailing and undergoing medical tests. I have no idea and I have not discussed with him about this. If he goes on September 23, it will not be to file nomination. He will be back and the Bharat Jodo Yatra will resume on 24,” Jairam Ramesh said.

    However, he said he could not say right now whether no one from the Gandhi family will contest for party’s top post.

    “If there is a member of Gandhi family, you would ask why there is a member of Gandhi family? If there is not then also you will ask why there is not a member from the Gandhi family? I would answer your questions after on September 31,” Ramesh quipped.

    FROM OUR ARCHIVES |  TJS George Column: Congress can’t be privately owned

    KOCHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has dismissed reports that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra, is set to leave Kerala and head to New Delhi to meet party president Sonia Gandhi to discuss organisational issues as the notification for the election of Congress president will come on Thursday. Ramesh insisted that Rahul will be part of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 24 to October 31 as per schedule.

    The nomination for the Congress presidential election will begin on September 24. So, speculation is rife that Rahul will leave for Delhi and file his nomination as several state Congress Committees have passed resolutions in favour of him.

    Opinion | The Congress Rahul walks away from

    “Every seven days, the yatra will have a break. September 23 is a rest day. For the past two-and-a-half weeks, he could not meet his mother who is ailing. He may be going to see his mother, who is ailing and undergoing medical tests. I have no idea and I have not discussed with him about this. If he goes on September 23, it will not be to file nomination. He will be back and the Bharat Jodo Yatra will resume on 24,” Jairam Ramesh said.

    However, he said he could not say right now whether no one from the Gandhi family will contest for party’s top post.

    “If there is a member of Gandhi family, you would ask why there is a member of Gandhi family? If there is not then also you will ask why there is not a member from the Gandhi family? I would answer your questions after on September 31,” Ramesh quipped.

    FROM OUR ARCHIVES |  TJS George Column: Congress can’t be privately owned

  • ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’: CPM softens stand against Congress, Kejriwal attacks Rahul once again

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday took a potshot at the Congress, saying Rahul Gandhi was “enough” to weaken it, rejecting allegations the AAP was acting as a B-team of the BJP and weakening the Congress.

    The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor also sought to maintain distance from the ongoing bid to form a grand opposition alliance to keep the BJP at bay in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Alliance politics should be left to those who are working on it, Kejriwal said, adding he did not understand it.

    The Delhi chief minister was replying to questions at a townhall event organised by NDTV.

    “Am I needed to weaken the Congress? Isn’t Rahul Gandhi enough,” he quipped when asked to comment on allegations levelled by political rivals that his AAP was weakening the Congress and acting as a B-team of the BJP to help the saffron party win elections.

    On the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ of the Congress, Kejriwal said, “Let them do it. Everyone should do good work. Best of luck (to Congress).”

    On efforts being made by opposition leaders, including his Bihar counterpart and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, to form a grand alliance of non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Delhi chief minister said India would not become the number one country in the world “by bringing politicians together”.

    India will become number one in the world only with the alliance of 130 crore people of the country, he added.

    “I am not against anybody. But I do not understand this politics of alliance. Leave this politics to them,” Kejriwal said.

    “If you have to build schools, hospitals, roads or fix electricity-related problems, call me. I will fix the problem as I am an IIT engineer,” he added.

    Kejriwal said India can be made number one in the world within five years if free and quality education was offered to students, free and good healthcare services made available to citizens and every youngster in the country given a job.

    Asked whether such things would happen if the AAP came to power at the Centre and he became the prime minister, Kejriwal said, “In a democracy, people take decisions. When all of them come together, they will decide.”

    “We have to overhaul the education system, healthcare system and provide employment to every youngster. And this is possible. We have shown by doing this in the past seven years (in Delhi). The country has only been looted and fooled in the past 75 years,” he added.

    Meanwhile, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday said “going to people” is a good thing, softening his party’s critique of the Congress’s “Bharat Jodo Yatra”, while asserting that the Left party is part of the effort to bring “secular, democratic” outfits in the country together.

    The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had earlier lashed out at the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra for stipulating 18 days for Left-ruled Kerala.

    Briefing reporters on the decisions taken at a recently-concluded politburo meeting of the party, Yechury hailed the efforts of leaders such as Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to unite the opposition parties.

    He, however remained ambivalent on the efforts of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    “Every party has the right to chart its on own path. Going to people is a good thing. The AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) is also doing it in its own way,” Yechury said, adding that people will draw their own conclusion from the number of days the Congress has planned for the “yatra” in different states.

    The CPI(M) leader’s comments were in contrast to the party’s tweet on September 12, taking a dig at the Congress over its foot march that has kept 18 days for the Left-ruled Kerala and only two days in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh.

    Yechury lashed out at senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who had dubbed the CPI(M) as the “A team” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala in response to the Left party’s September 12 tweet.

    “Kerala has no BJP MLA and the credit goes to the Left parties. As far as team A or B is concerned, you can see what has happened in Goa,” Yechury said.

    Eight of the 11 Congress MLAs in Goa, including former chief minister Digambar Kamat, recently switched sides to join the BJP.

    Yechury said the CPI(M) shall join the efforts to bring together the secular, democratic political parties to defend the “Constitution, democracy, democratic rights and civil liberties of people and safeguard the secular, democratic character of the Indian republic”.

    “The central committee’s call for an all-India campaign from September 14 to September 24 against the burdens being imposed on people’s livelihood and to safeguard democracy, democratic rights, secularism and the Indian Constitution will be observed in various forms all across the country and will culminate in state-level public meetings and rallies,” he said.

    India is facing the highest unemployment rate in the last 45 years and it was the duty of the Congress party to strengthen the future of the youth and bring positivity to the minds of youngsters in the country, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday.

    Gandhi, who has embarked on the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra,’ reached Neendakara in Kollam district today, the ninth day since he began his foot march on September 7.

    In a Facebook post, Gandhi said he had been meeting many youngsters during the march and was understanding their expectations from the government.

    If the country could make use of the youth power, the nation could grow very fast, he said.

    “But today the country has the highest unemployment in the last 45 years, educated youngsters are wandering in search of employment and disappointed. It is our duty and also the need of the time today to strengthen the future of our youth, bring positivity to them.”

    After the conclusion of the morning leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi has been engaged in discussions with cashew workers, entrepreneurs, trade unions and leaders of RSP and Forward Block, both allies of the Congress party.

    “I am meeting with many youngsters during our Bharat Jodo trip, understanding their expectations from the government, what kind of help they want from us to make their future bright and how many more possibilities can we create for them,” he said.

    Gandhi also noted that the purpose of the Yatra was to lend an ear to children, old, young, women, poor, farmers and tribals and to resolve their problems.

    “We are also succeeding, the youth are openly talking to us, walking together. I hope we all will unite our India and make it forward,” he added.

    The evening leg of the yatra will begin at 5 PM from Chavara bus stand and conclude at Karunagapally where the Bharat Jodo Yatra members will halt for the night.

    The 3,570 kilometres-long foot march started off from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7 and will conclude in Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which entered Kerala on September 10 evening, would traverse through the state covering 450 km, touching seven districts over a period of 19 days before entering Karnataka on October 1.

    Gandhi on Friday resumed his party’s Bharat Jodo yatra, a 150-day-long foot march, after a day’s rest from Polayathodu in Kollam district of Kerala.

    Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan, AICC general secretary in charge of Organisation, K C Venugopal, senior Congress leaders, Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, RSP leader N K Premachandran among others were seen walking besides Gandhi.

    Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi will interact with cashew workers, entrepreneurs, and party allies during the halt of the yatra at Neendakara in the district.

    “After a day of well-earned rest, #BharatJodoYatra resumed from Kollam today at 6:45 am. It’ll cover 13 km this morning and halt at Neendakara on the seashore. Interactions with cashew workers, cashew entrepreneurs, trade union and leaders of RSP & Forward Block in the afternoon,” Ramesh tweeted.

    The foot march was launched from Kanyakumari in neighbouring Tamil Nadu on September 7 and will cover 12 states and two Union territories.

    The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which entered Kerala on September 10 evening, would traverse through the state covering 450 km, touching seven districts over a period of 19 days before entering Karnataka on October 1.

    The yatra will enter Alappuzha on September 17 and pass through Ernakulam district on September 21 and 22 and reach Thrissur on September 23.

    The foot march will traverse through Palakkad on September 26 and 27 and enter Malappuram on September 28.

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday took a potshot at the Congress, saying Rahul Gandhi was “enough” to weaken it, rejecting allegations the AAP was acting as a B-team of the BJP and weakening the Congress.

    The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor also sought to maintain distance from the ongoing bid to form a grand opposition alliance to keep the BJP at bay in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Alliance politics should be left to those who are working on it, Kejriwal said, adding he did not understand it.

    The Delhi chief minister was replying to questions at a townhall event organised by NDTV.

    “Am I needed to weaken the Congress? Isn’t Rahul Gandhi enough,” he quipped when asked to comment on allegations levelled by political rivals that his AAP was weakening the Congress and acting as a B-team of the BJP to help the saffron party win elections.

    On the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ of the Congress, Kejriwal said, “Let them do it. Everyone should do good work. Best of luck (to Congress).”

    On efforts being made by opposition leaders, including his Bihar counterpart and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, to form a grand alliance of non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Delhi chief minister said India would not become the number one country in the world “by bringing politicians together”.

    India will become number one in the world only with the alliance of 130 crore people of the country, he added.

    “I am not against anybody. But I do not understand this politics of alliance. Leave this politics to them,” Kejriwal said.

    “If you have to build schools, hospitals, roads or fix electricity-related problems, call me. I will fix the problem as I am an IIT engineer,” he added.

    Kejriwal said India can be made number one in the world within five years if free and quality education was offered to students, free and good healthcare services made available to citizens and every youngster in the country given a job.

    Asked whether such things would happen if the AAP came to power at the Centre and he became the prime minister, Kejriwal said, “In a democracy, people take decisions. When all of them come together, they will decide.”

    “We have to overhaul the education system, healthcare system and provide employment to every youngster. And this is possible. We have shown by doing this in the past seven years (in Delhi). The country has only been looted and fooled in the past 75 years,” he added.

    Meanwhile, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday said “going to people” is a good thing, softening his party’s critique of the Congress’s “Bharat Jodo Yatra”, while asserting that the Left party is part of the effort to bring “secular, democratic” outfits in the country together.

    The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had earlier lashed out at the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra for stipulating 18 days for Left-ruled Kerala.

    Briefing reporters on the decisions taken at a recently-concluded politburo meeting of the party, Yechury hailed the efforts of leaders such as Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to unite the opposition parties.

    He, however remained ambivalent on the efforts of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    “Every party has the right to chart its on own path. Going to people is a good thing. The AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) is also doing it in its own way,” Yechury said, adding that people will draw their own conclusion from the number of days the Congress has planned for the “yatra” in different states.

    The CPI(M) leader’s comments were in contrast to the party’s tweet on September 12, taking a dig at the Congress over its foot march that has kept 18 days for the Left-ruled Kerala and only two days in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh.

    Yechury lashed out at senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who had dubbed the CPI(M) as the “A team” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala in response to the Left party’s September 12 tweet.

    “Kerala has no BJP MLA and the credit goes to the Left parties. As far as team A or B is concerned, you can see what has happened in Goa,” Yechury said.

    Eight of the 11 Congress MLAs in Goa, including former chief minister Digambar Kamat, recently switched sides to join the BJP.

    Yechury said the CPI(M) shall join the efforts to bring together the secular, democratic political parties to defend the “Constitution, democracy, democratic rights and civil liberties of people and safeguard the secular, democratic character of the Indian republic”.

    “The central committee’s call for an all-India campaign from September 14 to September 24 against the burdens being imposed on people’s livelihood and to safeguard democracy, democratic rights, secularism and the Indian Constitution will be observed in various forms all across the country and will culminate in state-level public meetings and rallies,” he said.

    India is facing the highest unemployment rate in the last 45 years and it was the duty of the Congress party to strengthen the future of the youth and bring positivity to the minds of youngsters in the country, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday.

    Gandhi, who has embarked on the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra,’ reached Neendakara in Kollam district today, the ninth day since he began his foot march on September 7.

    In a Facebook post, Gandhi said he had been meeting many youngsters during the march and was understanding their expectations from the government.

    If the country could make use of the youth power, the nation could grow very fast, he said.

    “But today the country has the highest unemployment in the last 45 years, educated youngsters are wandering in search of employment and disappointed. It is our duty and also the need of the time today to strengthen the future of our youth, bring positivity to them.”

    After the conclusion of the morning leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi has been engaged in discussions with cashew workers, entrepreneurs, trade unions and leaders of RSP and Forward Block, both allies of the Congress party.

    “I am meeting with many youngsters during our Bharat Jodo trip, understanding their expectations from the government, what kind of help they want from us to make their future bright and how many more possibilities can we create for them,” he said.

    Gandhi also noted that the purpose of the Yatra was to lend an ear to children, old, young, women, poor, farmers and tribals and to resolve their problems.

    “We are also succeeding, the youth are openly talking to us, walking together. I hope we all will unite our India and make it forward,” he added.

    The evening leg of the yatra will begin at 5 PM from Chavara bus stand and conclude at Karunagapally where the Bharat Jodo Yatra members will halt for the night.

    The 3,570 kilometres-long foot march started off from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7 and will conclude in Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which entered Kerala on September 10 evening, would traverse through the state covering 450 km, touching seven districts over a period of 19 days before entering Karnataka on October 1.

    Gandhi on Friday resumed his party’s Bharat Jodo yatra, a 150-day-long foot march, after a day’s rest from Polayathodu in Kollam district of Kerala.

    Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan, AICC general secretary in charge of Organisation, K C Venugopal, senior Congress leaders, Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, RSP leader N K Premachandran among others were seen walking besides Gandhi.

    Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi will interact with cashew workers, entrepreneurs, and party allies during the halt of the yatra at Neendakara in the district.

    “After a day of well-earned rest, #BharatJodoYatra resumed from Kollam today at 6:45 am. It’ll cover 13 km this morning and halt at Neendakara on the seashore. Interactions with cashew workers, cashew entrepreneurs, trade union and leaders of RSP & Forward Block in the afternoon,” Ramesh tweeted.

    The foot march was launched from Kanyakumari in neighbouring Tamil Nadu on September 7 and will cover 12 states and two Union territories.

    The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which entered Kerala on September 10 evening, would traverse through the state covering 450 km, touching seven districts over a period of 19 days before entering Karnataka on October 1.

    The yatra will enter Alappuzha on September 17 and pass through Ernakulam district on September 21 and 22 and reach Thrissur on September 23.

    The foot march will traverse through Palakkad on September 26 and 27 and enter Malappuram on September 28.

  • Bharat Jodo Yatra’s second phase to begin in Gujarat

    By Express News Service

    T’PURAM/KOLLAM: Having drawn flak for excluding BJP-ruled Gujarat from Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress announced that its second phase would begin in the western state and end in Arunachal Pradesh in 2023.

    “We’ll cover nearly 3,100km in 150 days in the second phase. This is the longest march undertaken by any political party in the world. Earlier it was the one undertaken by Chinese leader Mao Zedong. If the yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir turns successful, we’ll go ahead with the one from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh,” AICC general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said in Kollam.

    The Congress had faced criticism from the CPM for spending 18 days of the yatra in Kerala and a mere two days in Uttar Pradesh. But the party’s national leadership maintained that, as per their itinerary, the UP padayatra was scheduled for five days. The war of words on their respective Twitter handle saw them raising allegations and counter allegations.

    T’PURAM/KOLLAM: Having drawn flak for excluding BJP-ruled Gujarat from Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress announced that its second phase would begin in the western state and end in Arunachal Pradesh in 2023.

    “We’ll cover nearly 3,100km in 150 days in the second phase. This is the longest march undertaken by any political party in the world. Earlier it was the one undertaken by Chinese leader Mao Zedong. If the yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir turns successful, we’ll go ahead with the one from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh,” AICC general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said in Kollam.

    The Congress had faced criticism from the CPM for spending 18 days of the yatra in Kerala and a mere two days in Uttar Pradesh. But the party’s national leadership maintained that, as per their itinerary, the UP padayatra was scheduled for five days. The war of words on their respective Twitter handle saw them raising allegations and counter allegations.