Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul Gandhi exits the land of Chhatrapati, to enter MP

Jalgaon (Maharashtra), Nov 22 (IANS) Signing off with a “Jai Maharashtra”, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi hailed both the great heroes and the common people of this state as the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) enters the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh from Wednesday morning, and did not miss the opportunity to slam the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of his grand exit.

In a signed statement, Gandhi paid tributes to the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj before crossing into Madhya Pradesh on the 77th day of the 150-day-long BJY.

The Maharashtra leg saw a trail of bouquets, brickbats, a 10,000 square feet ‘rangoli, grannies hugging Gandhi, children crowding around and performing during the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday – not to mention some unsavory political controversies.

Recalling his experiences here, Gandhi said he “listened” to the people who work hard but are denied the fruits of their “tapasya”, farmers’ deep distress, bewildered youth worried about their future or the simple tribals struggling for their legitimate dues with laws and rights getting diluted every day.

“The root cause of this is the BJP government’s actions which concentrates wealth and power in the hands of a few. It is worsened by its agenda of dividing Indians against each other using culture, religion, caste and language,” he said sharply, in a departure statement.

He referred to how the BJY had debuted in Maharashtra by paying tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and passed through Buldhana, the birthplace of his mother Rajmata Jijamata, with hordes of people thronging at all points en route.

“It is our privilege to take inspiration from them as well as the great social reformers and saints of Maharashtra like Shahuji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule, Ahilyabai Holkar, B. R. Ambedkar, Shirdi Saibaba, Gajanan Maharaj and many others,” said Gandhi.

For centuries these legendary persons spread the message of equality, fraternity and social justice, which is also the message of the Constitution drafted by Dr. Ambedkar and also the BJY, he added.

“We are humbled to be walking in their footsteps. We are very grateful for the overwhelming response from the people of Maharashtra, the large crowds who walked with us every morning despite the cold, to the lakhs who attended our public rallies in Nanded and Shegaon. Large number of women and youth joined us which was especially heartwarming,” acknowledged Gandhi.

Recalling his fortnight long state sojourn, the Congress MP said that “we witnessed and celebrated India’s rich diversity” visiting different places of worship and walking with Bhikkhus, Sufis and Warkaris, celebration of Birsa Munda’s 157th birth anniversary with tribals from all over India, remembering his grandmother, the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birthday with a Shakti Walk for women and a unique public meeting with tens of thousands of tribal women”.

He saluted the state’s hospitality for standing against the BJP’s agenda through its rich traditions, remaining vibrant with a dedicated civil society movement, foresighted artistes from the cultural, literary and film spheres who supported his march wholeheartedly. – IANS

CM not above law, says ED as Kejriwal questions rationale behind his arrest

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said a chief minister was not above law even as Arvind Kejriwal questioned the rationale behind his arrest in the liquor policy case....

Excise policy case: Delhi court extends CM Kejriwal’s ED custody till April 1

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday extended the ED custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1. CM Kejriwal, whose alleged role in the excise policy scam is...

BJP could drop half a dozen more sitting MPs in UP

Lucknow: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Uttar Pradesh is expected to drop half a dozen more sitting MPs, known for their ‘under-performance’. The party is yet to announce candidates...

Meghalaya CM thanks PM Modi for not fielding BJP candidates

Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not fielding BJP candidates in two parliamentary seats in the state. The Chief Minister has been campaigning...

TN MP Ganeshamurthi dies at Coimbatore hospital 4 days after ‘attempting suicide’

Chennai: MDMK MP from Tamil Nadu's Erode constituency, A. Ganeshamurthi died in a private hospital in Coimbatore early Thursday morning. Ganeshamurthi (76) was upset over being denied a ticket to...

Kejriwal’s orders: Delhi BJP delegation files complaint with Police Commissioner, seeks probe

New Delhi: A delegation from the Delhi BJP approached Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on Wednesday, urging for a thorough investigation into the letters allegedly dispatched by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal...

Sadanand Vasant appointed new NIA chief; BPRD, NDRF get new DGs

New Delhi: The Centre has appointed Sadanand Vasant Date as the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), while IPS officers Rajeev Kumar Sharma and Piyush Anand have been...

Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu joins BJP

Chandigarh: In a political setback, outgoing Congress Lok Sabha MP Ravneet Singh Bittu from Punjab’s Sikh-dominated Ludhiana parliamentary constituency joined the BJP in Delhi on Tuesday. Bittu, the grandson of...

2024 Lok Sabha polls life and death issue for the Congress: A.K. Antony

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran Congress leader A.K. Antony on Tuesday termed the upcoming Lok Sabha polls "a life and death issue" for the party. "The aim of the Congress is to ensure...

With NC deciding to contest on all three LS seats, Mufti’s PDP likely to follow suit

Srinagar: After the regional National Conference (NC) headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah took the wind out of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) sails, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)...

BJP to go solo in all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab

  Chandigarh: After “talks” with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) remained inconclusive, the BJP on Tuesday announced its decision to go alone in all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab...

Cong leaders in Assam are fixed deposits for BJP, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: In yet another attack on Rahul Gandhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the future of the Congress leader and his party is bleak. He told the...

Read Previous

FIFA World Cup: Messi scores but Saudi Arabia shock Argentina 2-1 in Group C opener

Read Next

Germany warns of violent escalation after Turkish ops in Syria, Iraq

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com