JOIN USBJP, RSS have blocked wings of democracy: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi kickstarted the Bharat Jodo march in Karnataka on Friday with a sharp attack on the ruling BJP and its ideological parent RSS, whom he accused of closing “all democratic means of voicing the concerns of people”.
Rahul, who is walking 3,570 km over 150 days under the Bharat Jodo banner, started the Karnataka leg by addressing a public meeting at the Gundlutpet town in Chamarajanagar district.
“The BJP and RSS have blocked all wings of democracy like Parliament and media for voicing the pains and sorrows of people. Thus, this march is the only means left for people now,” Rahul said at the public meeting.
“After Narendra Modi became PM, the mics in Parliament are muted when the Opposition MPs speak and the media does not report the pains and sorrows of the people, as they are controlled by the government. Opposition leaders are arrested for voicing dissent and people’s problems,” he said.
Rahul accused the BJP and RSS of spreading hatred, violence, and coming to power “by dividing the people.”
“Thus, the yatra is held to save the Constitution. The yatra is held not just to tell the people something, but to listen to their pains and sufferings. So, speeches are limited to a few minutes. The yatra is all about walking and lending an ear to people’s concerns,” Rahul said, adding that people of all faiths, castes and languages are participating in the march.
“When someone stumbles and falls, all others rush to his or her help. They do not enquire about one’s faith, caste or language. This is our beautiful nation, peaceful Hindustan, Hindustan of brotherhood. No one can stop this, because it is the voice of the nation. People share their problems, about corruption, about unemployment, price hike, atrocities on farmers and privatisation of public sector units,” he said.
Rahul held an interaction with tribals from hamlets in Chamarajanagar district and also families of the victims of the oxygen-shortage crisis during the Covid pandemic.
During the public meeting, Rahul met noted Dalit writer Devanur Mahadeva who gave him a copy of the Constitution. Political activist Yogendra Yadav gave Rahul a copy of the Constitution preamble.
Rahul will resume his padayatra from Begur in Gundlupet taluk to Nanjangud on Saturday. The Bharat Jodo march will span 510 km over 21 days in Karnataka.