Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra Day 7: Rahul Gandhi And The Yatra In Arunachal Pradesh
Gumbo (Assam-Arunachal Border) January 20: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today made a grand entry into the state of Arunachal Pradesh with thousands of party workers receiving him at the border here, warmly and enthusiastically with slogans, “Jodo Jodo, Bharat Jodo” reverberating in the atmosphere.
He said, he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and affection by the people of Arunachal Pradesh and felt profoundly grateful.
Addressing the crowd, Gandhi assured them that he would raise their issues, including the China border issue, during the Yatra. He said, during the entire course of Yatra he has been making only a brief speech at the end, while for the entire day he talks to people and listens to their issues and problems.
The former Congress president alleged that the BJP was trying to run India from Delhi. He said, for him and the Congress party each and every province of the country was equally important. He alleged that the BJP and the RSS was pursuing a divisive agenda and spreading hate and making people fight against each other. He said, the BJP makes people of one religion fight with another, one language with another and one region with another.
Referring to BJP’s subjugation of local languages, he said, while Hindi should be promoted across the country, at the same time the local languages must also be promoted and safeguarded. He said, like the Bharat Jodo Yatra last year united everyone, the Nyay Yatra was raising the issue of justice for everyone. He quoted his conversation with few local youth in Arunachal Pradesh, who had been selected for the army few years ago.
But, he disclosed, they were refused the joining, since the government of India introduced the “Agnipath” scheme. He said, there were about 1.5 lakh such youth, who were denied their right to join the defence services even though they had qualified all the tests and exams, as the government introduced new scheme.
Earlier during the day, Gandhi was accorded warm reception by people as it entered Lakhimpur in Assam, where the BJP workers supported by the state government had damaged the posters and hoardings to the Yatra.
On the way, Mr Gandhi also got down from the bus and met the school children who were watching him from the road. Gandhi interacted with them briefly. They greeted him with ‘Jodo Jodo Bharat Jodo’ slogans.
The Congress leader also paid tributes to great Assamese Commander-in-Chief Lachit Borphukan at Pahumara, Lakhimpur.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will remain in Arunachal Pradesh till tomorrow and will cross over to Assam once again for its onwards journey ahead.
