'Manipur Not Part of India For BJP...': Rahul Gandhi's Fiery Start to 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said Manipur is not part of India for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and RSS. During his opening remarks for the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, which began from Thoubal in the violence-hit state, he said he had never before witnessed such collapse of governance since he joined politics in 2004.

Attacking the prime minister for not visiting Manipur, Gandhi said Modi had not yet come here to “wipe your tears and hold your hand”. He added that Manipur has lost what it holds precious due to the BJP’s politics.

“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. After June 29, 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…” he said while launching the yatra, which will cover more than 6,700 km in over 67 days, going through 110 districts and culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.

The Congress has said the yatra is an ideological yatra and not an electoral one, and it was being taken out against the “anyay kaal” (period of injustice) of 10 years of the Narendra Modi-led central government. Gandhi further said the Congress understands the pain of the people of Manipur and will bring back harmony, peace and affection that the state has always been known for.

“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 said.

He added: “…Manipur is a symbol of the BJP’s politics, Manipur is a symbol of the hatred of BJP and RSS. Manipur is a symbol of the BJP’s viewpoint and ideology…”

Before he flagged it off, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the yatra was being taken out to “save the Constitution, democracy and stop fascist forces”. It is also to ensure employment, for farmers’ rights and against price rise. “Rahul Gandhi has come to Manipur to share your pain, to talk about your problems,” he said during the launch.

He added: “PM Modi comes to Manipur to ask for votes but when the people of Manipur are in trouble he doesn’t show his face. Woh samandar ke upar sair karta phirta hai, aur baithe jagah jaap karte rehte hain Ram Ram. Mukh mein Ram, bagal mein chori, 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 Congress decided to opt for another venue in Thoubal after the state government had given the party conditional approval to flag off the yatra from the Palace Grounds in Imphal, restricting the number of participants. Though the grand old party has repeatedly stressed that this is not an electoral yatra, it comes at a crucial juncture as it seeks to revive its fortunes after a poor showing in the last round of assembly elections.

With the BJP focusing on the January 22 Ram temple pran pratishtha, the Congress wants to put the spotlight on bread-and-butter issues through this yatra.

(With PTI inputs)