Rahul terms 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' as 'only option' as all forms of expression shut

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday termed 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' as the 'only option' left for their to reach out to the people at a time when all other forms of expression have been shut. "There are various institutions in democracy. There's media and Parliament too but all these have been shut for the opposition and media doesn't listen to us," said Rahul Gandhi, addressing a public meeting held at Gundlupet town in Karnataka.

Gundlupet (Karnataka): Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday termed his party's ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' as the 'only option' left for them to reach out to the people at a time when all other forms of expression have been shut. "There are various institutions in democracy. There's the media and Parliament, too. Still, all these have been shut for the opposition and the media doesn't listen to us," said Rahul Gandhi, addressing a public meeting at Gundlupet after his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' entering Karnataka here in Chamarajanagar district on Friday morning. "There's total government control. Our mikes are muted in Parliament, Assemblies are not allowed to function and opposition is harassed. In this situation, the only option left with us is 'Bharat Jodo Yatra," Rahul Gandhi said.

"This march is to save the Constitution. This tri-colour is meaningless without the Constitution," Rahul said and added that the yatra is aimed at highlighting the people's struggle against price rise, unemployment, atrocities against farmers and the privatisation of public sector units. "The objective of this Yatra is not to give speeches, but to hear you," he told the people. Asserting that no force in the country can stop this yatra, Rahul said: "This is India's march and a march to hear India's voice, which no one can suppress." In the next 21 days, the Yatra would cover 511 km passing through various districts in the State. The "pain of Karnataka" will be heard during this march, he said.

Rahul Gandhi said that the people would come to participate in the Yatra when everybody came to know about the prevailing corruption, inflation and unemployment. The march's objective is to "save" the Indian Constitution, and "to stand up against the BJP and RSS' ideology of hatred and violence", he reiterated.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi's country-wide 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' entered Karnataka through the Bandipur forest area. Rahul Gandhi was welcomed by State Congress leaders near the Kekkanahalla check post. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, KPCC President DK Sivakumar, MB Patil, RV Deshpande, Veerappa Moily, KJ George and other Congress leaders were present. Upon his arrival in the State, Rahul had a brief halt for coffee at a private resort near the Hangala village in Gundlupet.

The state leaders have arranged for Rahul Gandhi to address the people from a dais erected in front of Ambedkar Bhavan in Gundlupet town. After this, Rahul will proceed with 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. Along the way, he will interact with the Soliga community people and the families of the persons, who died of oxygen shortage at the Chamarajanagar district hospital in May 2021.