Jhalawar (Rajasthan): Rahul Gandhi Sunday said he is learning a lot during his Bharat Jodo Yatra which entered the Congress-ruled Rajasthan to a grand welcome by party workers at Jhalawar. The Yatra entered Rajasthan at the Chanwli Chauraha here Sunday evening after spending 12 days in Madhya Pradesh, during which it covered a distance of 380 km.
Gandhi said he has no hatred in his heart towards the BJP and the RSS, but he will not let them "spread hatred in the country". He said he is learning immensely from the foot march. "Things that cannot be understood while travelling in an aeroplane, a helicopter or a vehicle."
"It is only after shaking hands with farmers that one understands what they are doing. This cannot be learnt from a helicopter," he said. Targeting the central government, he said that only three-four industrialists are benefitting under this dispensation which is not in the interest of the country.
"Every Yatri will wake up at 6 am. Not just Yatris, all Congress workers will be on the road at 5 am. This is Mahatma Gandhi's party not Savarkar's or Godse's...We will hear you for 8 hours and speak to you for 10 to 15 minutes in the evening," Gandhi said.
The yatra entered the Congress-ruled Rajasthan Sunday evening amid excitement among party workers and a well-coordinated attempt to paper over differences between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot. A grand welcome was given to Gandhi at Chanwli chauraha in Jhalawar.
Also read: Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra is scripting history: Kharge at Cong Steering Committee Meet
Gandhi along with Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra held hands and danced in a circle together with folk artists on the stage. The cultural artists presented performances including the famous 'Padharo Mhare Des' on the occasion.
On Saturday, Sachin Pilot posted a video message on his Twitter handle welcoming the Yatra in the state and appealed to everyone to join in. It came after his call to state party cadres to avoid 'mudslinging' and stay united in the fight against the BJP, brushing aside Gehlot's branding him as a 'traitor' in a television interview. Rahul Gandhi somehow managed to douse the fire by calling both leaders 'assets' to the party.
There has been a lot of infighting between the Rajasthan Chief Minister who is a Congress veteran and Sachin Pilot who had earlier been the Deputy Chief Minister in the state and has apparently been eyeing the top post in the state for a long time. Pilot, who is seen as a young charismatic leader, had even revolted against Congress earlier, in 2020, and had brought the Congress-ruled state government on the verge of collapse.
Rahul Gandhi to skip winter session of parliament
Rahul Gandhi is likely to skip the Winter Session of the Parliament, which begins on December 7, on account of his foot march."It is not practical for Rahul Gandhi to attend the Parliament's Winter Session, Congress MP K C Venguopal said on Sunday. "Bharat Jodo Yatra is under way," Venugopal said at a press conference.
The party during its parliamentary strategy group's meeting at Sonia Gandhi's residence decided to raise the issue of the "weakening" of constitutional institutions in the country.
During the session, which begins on December 7, the party is seeking to corner the government on the border issue with China, economic situation in the country, "weakening" of constitutional institutions and reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS).
