Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: BJP-RSS favors governance from Delhi with 'one leader' at the helm, says Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi said the Congress is not in favor of the Center being the sole deciding power in all matters, while the BJP and the RSS believe that the entire country is being ruled from Delhi.
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the BJP and RSS believe in centralized rule from Delhi with “one leader” at the helm and only one language imposed on the entire country.
Addressing a public rally Gogamukh in Assam's Lakhimpur district on the second day of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the BJP-ruled state, the Wayanad MP said that unlike the saffron party, the Congress believes in local governance and attaches equal importance to all States and Regions,
Rahul Gandhi said the Congress is not in favor of the Center being the sole deciding power in all matters.
'Assam will not be governed from Delhi'
Gandhi claimed that the BJP-RSS combine believes in ruling 'Hindustan' from Delhi.
“The BJP and RSS believe that Hindustan should be governed from Delhi, with one language and one leader. We disagree. Assam will not be governed from Delhi; it will be governed from Assam,” he said.
Emphasizing that Congress values all states equally, Gandhi said that is why he initiated this march from Manipur in the east to Mumbai in the west.
“We chose Manipur because we wanted to convey the message to everyone that the northeastern states are as important as other states. It is as important to preserve their history, language and culture as that of any other place,” he said.
'Civil war' in Manipur, Prime Minister did not visit
Rahul Gandhi took a shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting ethnic violence-torn Manipur, saying it was the first time in the country's history that a civil war broke out in a state, but the Prime Minister is there have not been.
“For the first time in the history of India, a situation resembling a civil war is prevailing in a state. There has been violence for months, hatred is being spread, people are being killed, properties are being burned.
“But the Prime Minister has not visited the state even once. He cannot go there as it will expose the political reality of the BJP,” he alleged.
Himanta 'most corrupt'
For the second day in a row, Gandhi criticized Himanta Biswa Sarma, calling him the 'most corrupt' CM.
“The CM of Assam is so corrupt that he can give lessons to his counterparts from other BJP-led ruled states on how to commit corruption,” he added.
He said during his interactions with the youth in the state, they lamented the lack of employment opportunities despite being well educated.
Gandhi blamed BJP for unemployment and said, “The government works only for 2-3 millionaires. In Delhi it works for Adani ji and in Assam even that is not necessary. The CM's family is here because of all the corruption. The CM has taught everyone how to do it,” the Congress leader claimed.
Gandhi ended the day's journey at Gogamukh, from where it will proceed to the Arunachal Pradesh border the next day and return to Assam on Sunday.
The second day's journey had begun with a ferry ride by the Yatra entourage across the Brahmaputra from Nimaathat in Jorhat district to Majuli, the island district.
The march reached Gogamukh by road, with the convoy stopping at several places as Gandhi waved and interacted with people standing along the route.
(With PTI inputs)