Kanyakumari: Stating that India is not the “imposition of one idea” on its people, but it is the history, language and culture of every single person, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ Wednesday at the confluence of the three seas at Kanyakumari.
With 120 yatris in tow, Rahul will embark on the 3,570 km yatra Thursday to “unite” and “strengthen” the country. The journey from Kanyakumari to Kashmir will last 150 days, during which he along with other Congress leaders will stay in modified containers that are equipped with beds, toilets and air-conditioners.
Addressing supporters who had come from states including Telangana, Assam, Rajasthan and from within Tamil Nadu, he said embedded within the flag was “our identity, not only our identity as a nation, not only our identity as states but our identity as every single Indian person”.
“Today every single institution is under attack from the RSS [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh] and the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party]. They think that this flag is their personal property. They think they can single-handedly determine the future of the people of this country, the future of the states of this country,” he said.
“They think they can frighten the opposition using the ED [Enforcement Directorate], the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation], the Income tax. Problem is they do not understand Indian people… Doesn’t matter how many hours of interrogation they do, not a single leader of the opposition is going to be scared of the BJP.”
Rahul said that the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ was designed to listen to the people of India. “We want to listen to the wisdom of the people of India.”
The country, Rahul asserted, was facing its “worst” economic crisis. “The BJP government has systematically attacked the farmers, the labourers and the small and medium businesses of this country. A handful of large businesses control the entire country today. Ports, airports, coal, power, telecom — every single industry is controlled by a handful of businesses,” he said.
An hour before the rally, the Congress leader visited the Gandhi Mandapam in Kanyakumari where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin presented him with a tricolour.
“Today, my brother Rahul Gandhi has begun a journey to retrieve India’s soul, to uphold the lofty ideals of our republic and to unite our country’s people with love,” tweeted Stalin. “There can be no better place than Kumari, where the statue of Equality stands tall, to start #BharatJodoYatra,” he said, referring to the Thiruvalluvar statue.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi attended a prayer meeting at the Rajiv Gandhi memorial in Sriperumbudur. “I lost my father to the politics of hate and division. I will not lose my beloved country to it too. Love will conquer hate. Hope will defeat fear. Together, we will overcome,” he tweeted.
At the rally’s venue, 68-year-old Jebraj Paul sat alongside his wife and daughter waiting for the arrival of the Congress leader. “Ideally, I would have liked to walk alongside Rahul all the way to Kashmir but my health won’t permit me,” he told ThePrint.
Paul said he had been involved with the Congress party since his childhood days. “I would like to contribute in some way to the Congress, the party that shaped me. I didn’t know Nehru, and like many people I misunderstood Indira Gandhi’s boldness, but in Rahul I see an honest man who is trying to do good,” he said.
The sexagenarian said the only thing left to be done was to connect with the people once more. “That is the only way forward. To mingle amongst people and understand what they need,” he said. “Even the Prime Minister today would not have been elected without the country’s people and people are not foolish.”
Elsewhere at the rally, 10 members from the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee sat listening to Rahul’s speech.
“We are coming to Kanyakumari for the first time and the weather is very similar to Assam,” said Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Bipul Gogoi.
“It is important we go amongst the people and discuss and understand issues surrounding unemployment and price rise. If you look at the GST [Goods and Services Tax] imposed on items it even feels like it is against certain food items that are essential to Assamese culture. So it feels like a GST hike against Assamese and Indian culture” he said.
Behind them sat a couple who had driven on their motorbike from Tirunelveli, who identified themselves as long-time supporters of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). “People are very aware of the political situation in this country. This rally is really important since it will be very good if people come together against a common cause,” said Suba Nandaraj, a private taxi driver.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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