Congress has been blamed for being a party that is detached from the reality of modern India, a party that is far from what is happening on the ground in the country.
Perhaps the Grand Old Party has finally acknowledged reality, as former party president Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is an attempt to understand what is going on the ground in India.
Speaking on the second day of the 150-day Yatra in Nagercoil, Gandhi said, “Everybody has an opinion, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) have an opinion. They have an opinion and view, and they are welcome to have an opinion and view.” “For Congress, this is a journey, an attempt to understand what is going on the ground in India. The motto of the Yatra is to connect with the masses,” he added.
Continuing with his attack on the central government, Gandhi also said that the Yatra is also an attempt to undo the damage done by the BJP and RSS.
“(The Yatra)… an attempt to undo some of the damages that have been done by the BJP and RSS,” the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala’s Wayanad said. “And of course, the BJP will have an opinion. I don’t have any grudge against them for having an opinion,” he said while responding to a query about BJP alleging that the Yatra is a bid to save one family.
“The Congress has decided to do a padayatra. As a member of the party and as a person who believes in the India of Congress, I am participating in the Yatra. I don’t see any contradiction in my joining the Yatra,” he said.
Gandhi also blamed the BJP for putting pressure on opposition leaders and forcing them to leave their respective parties. “BJP has taken control of all the institutions of the county. They have inserted their people into these institutions to pressurise them. You know the role of the CBI, ED, the IT department,” he said while addressing the issue of leaders leaving the party. “We are no longer fighting any political party. Now the fight is between the structure of the Indian state and the opposition,” he added.
“This is a difficult fight. A lot of people don’t feel like fighting. It is easier to go to the BJP and make peace with folded hands. Unfortunately, this is not my character. My character is to fight for a certain idea of India and certain emotions of this country. Many people in the opposition are convinced of this fact,” he added.
Responding to questions on whether he will lead the Congress once again, Gandhi said, “I have made my decision. I am very clear, and I shall reply when the Congress president election takes place. Please wait for that day,” he said.
The 3,570 km Bharat Jodo Yatra officially started on September 8 from Kanyakumari. During the 150-day Yatra, Gandhi and several other party leaders will march to Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar.