Rahul Gandhi flags off 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Manipur, targets PM Modi govt

Guwahati: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday while flagging off the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra from Thoubal in Manipur launched a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre for failure to maintain peace, law and order in trouble-torn Manipur.

Addressing a large crowd at Myay Maidan, Khongjom in Thoubai Mr Gandhi said,  “ I'm in politics since 2004 and for the first time I visited a place in India where the entire infrastructure of governance has collapsed."

He said, “After 29th June, Manipur wasn't Manipur anymore, it got divided and hatred was spread everywhere, lakhs of people suffered loss. People lost their loved ones in front of their eyes. And till now, the Indian PM has not come here to wipe your tears and hold your hand. It is a shameful thing. Maybe for PM Modi, BJP and RSS, Manipur is not a part of India.”

Amid thundering support of the crowd Mr Gandhi went on saying, “You (people) have lost what you have valued but we will find what you have valued once again and bring it back to you. We understand the pain the people of Manipur have been through. We understand the hurt, the loss and the sadness you have been through. We promise you that we will bring back what you have valued, we will bring back the harmony, the peace, the affection that this state has always been known for.”

He accused, “Manipur is a symbol of BJP's politics, Manipur is a symbol of BJP and RSS's hatred. Manipur is a symbol of BJP's viewpoint and ideology..."

Launching the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Thoubal, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, “PM Modi comes to Manipur to ask for votes but when the people of Manipur are in trouble he doesn't show his face 'wo samandar ke upar sair karta firta hai aur baithe jagah jap karte rehte hein Ram Ram'.”

He said, “'Mukh mein Ram, bagal mein choori', don't do this with the people...everybody has faith in God but don't do this for votes...these people (BJP) mix religion to provoke people.”

The yatra is set to cover 6,713 km in buses and on foot, passing through 100 Lok Sabha constituencies in 15 states, spanning 110 districts over 67 days. The march is anticipated to conclude in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.

The Yatra comes a year after Rahul Gandhi conducted the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, which gave an apparent boost to the Congress party. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra comes months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

Earlier a special IndiGo flight, through which Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, travelled to Manipur’s Imphal for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, was delayed due to fog and poor visibility conditions at Delhi Airport on Sunday morning.