"For Reestablishing Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity": Kharge On Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra
New Delhi, January 6: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today said that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will seek justice for the people of the country. He also lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party government for blatant misuse of investigating agencies to intimidate political opponents.
The Congress president also released the logo and the slogan, “Nyay Ka Haq, Milne Tak” of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
“This Yatra is aimed at re-establishing the four pillars mentioned in preamble of constitution- Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”, Kharge asserted.
Addressing his first press conference in the ‘New Year’ here today, Kharge along with the general secretary organization KC Venugopal and general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh said that the Yatra to be led by Rahul Gandhi will start from Imphal in Manipur on January 14. He said, after crossing 15 states, covering 110 districts, 100 parliamentary constituencies and 337 assembly segments, it will conclude in Mumbai.
He said, the Congress party will put forth its point of view before the people and also listen to their issues and problems. He pointed out, when the members belonging to 28 INDIA parties tried to raise various issues in parliament, 146 of them were thrown out, which was unprecedented in the history of India.
The Congress president said, the Yatra will start from the same Manipur which has been seeing killings and rapes since May last year and where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not feel like going. He said this showed lack of compassion on part of the Prime Minister towards the people who were suffering. He asked, if Manipur is not part of India that the Prime Minister did not feel the need to go there, while he can be seen going everywhere else.
Seeking the support of the media, he said it was important for everyone to save democracy and the constitution. He pointed out, if there was no constitution, there would be no freedom of expression under which journalists work.
He also criticized the recently passed legislation on criminal and labour laws. He said these were the signs of dictatorship. He pointed out, the Modi government had repealed even the British era labour laws as also those passed after independence. He said, the Modi government wants to make the employees as bonded labourers.
Alleging that the BJP government was intimidating the opposition leaders by misusing the agencies like the ED, the CBI and the Income Tax Department, Mr Kharge said, they (the BJP government) were trying to arm twist people to toe their line. Taking a dig at the union Home Minister Amit Shah for inducting people, whom the BJP first calls corrupt and after it makes them join the party (the BJP), they get clean chit.
“There is a big dry clean factory with Shah, where every tainted leader comes out clean, pure white”, he remarked, while adding, same leaders who are supposed to be tainted with the Congress, turn neat and clean once they join the BJP.
Referring to the way the BJP tries to buy elected representatives, Mr Kharge said, this is not good for the country and the constitution. He said that Prime Minister Modi does not believe in the constitution of the country. He said, Modi does not consider “this constitution as constitution”, but believes in the “Nagpur constitution”, an oblique reference to the RSS ideology.
Replying to a question, Congress President said, he had been invited for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple and he will be deciding soon. At the same time, he added, it is a matter of personal faith and one can go there anytime, today, tomorrow or in future without any invitation.
On seat sharing with other INDIA parties, he pointed out, the National Alliance Committee of the party had already started the process. He said the committee will talk to the PCC presidents and CLP leaders and others in every state. Further discussions will take place subsequently based on the opinion of the state leadership.
