Congress leader Rahul Gandhi initiated the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Manipur on Sunday, pledging to bring peace and harmony to the state grappling with ethnic violence. The violence that erupted in May last year has resulted in over 180 fatalities and displaced thousands.
Addressing a public gathering in Thoubal, south of Manipur’s capital Imphal, Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that for the BJP and RSS, Manipur may not be considered an integral part of India. He lamented the absence of Modi’s direct involvement in comforting the affected people, implying a lack of empathy.
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Gandhi expressed understanding of the suffering endured by the people of Manipur and vowed to restore the state’s historical reputation for harmony, peace, and affection. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, spanning 6,713 km, will traverse 100 Lok Sabha constituencies, and 337 assembly segments, and cover 110 districts before concluding in Mumbai on March 20 after 67 days.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticized Modi, accusing him of visiting the northeastern state solely for political gains, without genuinely empathizing with the pain of the people. Kharge highlighted Modi’s leisure activities, contrasting them with the unaddressed grievances in Manipur.
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Kharge emphasized the Congress’s commitment to social justice, secularism, and equity, positioning Rahul Gandhi’s yatra as a defense of the Constitution and democracy against perceived fascist forces.
Expressing pride in the proactive approach of his party’s leader, Kharge unveiled the bus that will transport Gandhi and other Congress leaders during the yatra from Manipur to Mumbai. The journey aims to spread a message of peace and address the challenges facing the nation.
