RAHUL IN UP
secration ceremony of the Ram temple, Modi gave the message that the country’s 73 percentage of people has no importance,” Gandhi said
Accusing the BJP government of neglecting 73% of the country’s Dalits, backward classes and tribals, the former Congress president said that they are being ignored and preference is being given to the capitalists.
“Modi is filling the pockets of the rich by cutting the pockets of the farmers. In the name of religion, work is being done to spread hatred in the country. The government is failing to provide employment to the youth and security of women in the country. Modi’s agencies like the ED and CBI are puppets, which are being used to threaten opposition parties,” he said.
Gandhi, who reached Lalganj Indira Chowk via the district headquarters, was welcomed by the Congress leaders on his arrival.
Earlier in the day, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh on Monday said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will address a public rally in Babuganj.
“Today is the 37th day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will address a public rally in Babuganj. We will stay in Amethi tonight and reach Raebareli tomorrow morning. We will stay in Lucknow tomorrow and in Kanpur the day after. Then, we will take 2 days’ rest on 22nd and 23rd February...” said Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh.
When asked about the SP chief joining the Yatra, Ramesh said, “I expect that he will join the Yatra tomorrow. Earlier, Apna Dal leader Pallavi Patel also joined the yatra.”
The Samajwadi Party and the Congress are partners in the opposition INDIA bloc.
The Congress secured victory only from the Raebareli seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. At 80, the state sends the highest number of MPs to Parliament.
A political face-off in Amethi is, meanwhile, likely.
Amethi used to be a Congress stronghold in Uttar Pradesh, where Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani by a margin of around 55,000 votes in the 2019 elections.
The Congress is still undecided on wether Rahul Gandhi will make an attempt at regaining the Congress stronghold specially since Sonia Gandhi has also left Rae Bareili for the Rajya Sabha.
“CEC will decide on who will contest from Amethi. Rahul Gandhi has been an MP from Amethi thrice. His father Rajiv Gandhi also used to contest from Amethi. It is a very important constituency for the Congress party...” said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, succeeded by the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner.