Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday invited like-minded Opposition parties to stand up together against the RSS and BJP to save the liberal and secular ethos of the country.
Rahul, who donned a Kashmiri pheran during a public rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium, braved heavy snowfall and incessant rain while launching a blistering attack against the ruling party at the Centre.
Surrounded by the Opposition leaders, invited by the Congress party at the closing ceremony of Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul said the aim of his Bharat Jodo Yatra was to save the liberal and secular ethos of the country which, he claimed, was facing an assault from the BJP and the RSS.
“I have not done this (yatra) for myself or for the Congress but for the people of the country. Our aim is to stand against the ideology that wants to destroy the foundation
of this country”, Rahul explained.
Though several senior and prominent Opposition leaders stayed away, representatives of DMK, JMM, BSP, NC, PDP, CPI, RSP, VCK and IUML participated in the rally.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, NC leader Omar Abdullah and DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, and BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav were among the leaders who attended the concluding event of Congress party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar.
It was not clear whether the BSP MP was representing the party or taking part in the rally in his individual capacity.
The public rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir saw thin attendance due to overnight snowfall across different parts of Kashmir valley.
Before attending the public rally, Rahul also visited Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi on Maulana Azad Road where party President Mallikarjun Kharge unfurled the National flag.
During the rally Rahul also challenged the BJP top brass to undertake a yatra like his in Jammu and Kashmir, saying they will never do it as they are scared.
“I can guarantee you that no BJP leader can walk like this in Jammu and Kashmir. They will not do it, not because they won’t be allowed to but because they are scared,” he said.
Rahul said he was advised against walking the Jammu and Kashmir lap on the grounds that he might be attacked.
“I thought it over and then decided that I will walk in my home and with my people (in J&K). Why not give them (his enemies) a chance to change the colour of my shirt, let them make it red, Rahul said.
“The people of Kashmir did not give me hand grenades, only their hearts full of love,” he said. Recalling the moments when he was informed about the assassination of his grandmother and father -- former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi -- over phone calls, the former Congress president said the inciters of violence will never understand that pain.
“Those who incite violence - like Modiji, Amit Shahji, the BJP and the RSS - will never understand this pain. The family of an Army man will understand, the family of the CRPF personnel who were killed in Pulwama will understand, Kashmiris will understand that pain when one gets that call.
“The aim of the yatra is to end the phone calls announcing the deaths of loved ones -- be it a soldier, a CRPF jawan or any Kashmiri,” he added.
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar asked Rahul to undertake another yatra from west to east of the country.
“On this last function of the yatra, I congratulate Rahul on behalf of myself, my father and my party. This yatra has been successful. This yatra has shown that there are people in the country who like the BJP but there are also those who like the other idea which is of brotherhood,” he said.
“I request Rahul to undertake a yatra from west to east. I would like to walk with him,” Abdullah added.
PDP president Mufti said the country sees a ray of hope in Rahul.
Addressing the rally senior CPI leader D Raja urged all secular parties of the country to unite. “We all fought together for the independence of the country and liberated the country from the British Raj. All secular parties must come together to liberate the country from BJP Raj,” he said.
RSP leader Premchandran declared his party’s solidarity with the Congress leader. “A historic movement was undertaken. Rahul has proved that he is the right leader to fight against these divisive forces,” he said.
During the course of the yatra, Rahul addressed 12 public meetings, over 100 corner meetings, 13 press conferences. He had over 275 planned walking interactions and more than 100 sitting interactions.