Pratik Das, Pune
On Saturday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, claiming that innocent people’s homes are being demolished using bulldozers while those responsible go unpunished.
Priyanka Gandhi joined the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi. The nation-wide yatra recommenced its journey from Moradabad following a two-day pause during the final leg of the march in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress stated that she will be accompanying her brother as the yatra traverses through Amroha, Sambhal, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Hathras, and Agra and is scheduled to conclude at Fatehpur Sikri on Sunday.
Agra is poised to witness the participation of Samajwadi Chief Akhilesh Yadav in the yatra on Sunday, following a seat-sharing agreement between the parties in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Manish Hindvi, a spokesperson for the Congress’ Uttar Pradesh unit, informed PTI that individuals from diverse backgrounds joined the Yatra. They extended greetings to both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.
Priyanka Gandhi was initially scheduled to join the yatra as it entered Uttar Pradesh in Chandauli. However, due to health issues, she couldn’t participate and was subsequently hospitalised.
During her address in Moradabad, Priyanka Gandhi emphasised that when she visited the region in 2022, the Congress had outlined a manifesto to combat recurring question paper leaks. This plan included the implementation of a job calendar, specifying both the examination date and the date of appointment. Additionally, discussions were held on establishing a commission to address various injustices. The Congress general secretary also raised concerns about the escalating issues of unemployment and inflation in the country.
“The farmers were protesting yesterday. The farmers are protesting today also, but the government is not listening to them. In Uttar Pradesh, bulldozers did not run on the homes of those who crushed farmers under their jeeps, tortured women, and leaked question papers. In this government, the bulldozer is not moved on guilty, but only on the homes of innocent people,” she said.
In reference to the Yatra, she stated that the inclusion of “Nyay” in the name has a profound meaning attached to it. It is in response to the injustice faced by women, children, and farmers in the country. She emphasised that without initiating change, the prevailing circumstances will remain unchanged. Concurrently, ST Hasan, the Moradabad MP from the Samajwadi Party, also took part in the yatra. He remarked, “The nation is currently facing a dire situation, unprecedented in its threat to communal harmony. Presently, every Indian desires the preservation of our love and the Ganga-Jamuni culture.”
The yatra is scheduled to proceed into Rajasthan, pausing in Dholpur on Sunday. The Congress has announced a break for the yatra from February 26 to March 1, enabling Rahul Gandhi to fulfil a longstanding commitment to deliver two lectures at his alma mater, Cambridge University in the UK, on February 27 and 28.
The yatra is scheduled to commence from Dholpur on March 2, proceeding into Madhya Pradesh and encompassing districts such as Morena, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Guna, Shajapur, and Ujjain. On March 5, Rahul Gandhi plans to visit the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, where he had previously offered prayers during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022.