Ahead of the Mehangai Par Halla Bol rally, the Congress on Sunday said that it was being held to raise the issue of price rise, unemployment, and economic slowdown, which has adversely impacted the people of the country.
Speaking to the media, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “We are not doing this rally in view of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but the problems that people are facing on the issue of inflation, unemployment, and others.”
Ramesh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said that on August 5 “when we staged a protest over inflation, our 70 MPs were detained and were kept at Kingsway camp for over seven hours. Thus, we want to send a clear message to the Modi government over price rise and unemployment which the people are worried about”.
When asked about BJP alleging that the rally is to divert the attention from corruption, the Congress leader said, “We had addressed a rally in 2021 in Rajasthan. We have been raising the issues of inflation and unemployment in the states, in Parliament, and on the streets. And thus, this rally is organised. From September 7, Bharat Jodo Yatra is also taking place, in which we will raise the issues of inflation, unemployment, economic issues, and others.”
Hitting out at the BJP-led central government, Ramesh said, “The BJP will keep on levelling allegations as the Modi government has two brothers in the form of inflation and unemployment and they also have two brothers in the form of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation.”
The Mehangai Par Halla rally will be addressed by former party chief Rahul Gandhi and several other senior leaders at the Ramlila Maidan in Central Delhi.
People have been gathering at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi for the rally since morning. As per Congress leaders, about a lakh people will attend the rally.
Earlier, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi was also supposed to address the rally. However, she had to travel abroad for treatment along with her daughter and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi returned to Delhi to address the public meeting and also participate in the 3,500-km Bharat Jodo Yatra beginning on September 7 that will go on for 150 days.