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Amidst variations in opposition bloc INDIA over seat sharing with TMC in Bengal for Lok Sabha polls, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Sunday referred to as on Bengal and Bengalis to spearhead the battle in opposition to prevailing injustices within the nation.
Gandhi’s assertion, delivered throughout the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in North Bengal, got here days after after Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s announcement that her social gathering would contest the forthcoming basic elections independently within the state.
Expressing gratitude for the nice and cozy reception in West Bengal, Gandhi remarked, “The people of West Bengal have given me a lot of love. Bengal holds a special place. Bengal led the ideological fight during the Independence struggle. Rabindranath Tagore, Subhash Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda had worked to show the path to the country. I am confident that all of you will work to reunite this country.” He emphasised, “Bengal and Bengalis must lead from the front to combat injustice, foster unity, and curb hatred in the present circumstances.” “If you don’t rise to the occasion, people will never forgive you. It is not about any single individual; it is about Bengal showing the way and leading in this fight,” he mentioned.
His remarks elucidating Bengal and Bengalis in main the battle in opposition to injustice comes at a time when opposition bloc INDIA confronted a jolt in neighbouring Bihar after its former ally JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar dumped the grand alliance and switched allegiance to BJP-led NDA.
Although Gandhi kept away from instantly naming any political entity, his feedback elicited various reactions from each the TMC and different political quarters.
“Yes, he is correct that Bengal has historically been at the forefront of pivotal movements, notably against British rule. Mamata Banerjee halted the BJP’s momentum in the 2021 assembly polls and played a significant role in forming the opposition coalition. However, it was the Bengal Congress leadership that compromised with the saffron camp in the state,” remarked TMC spokesperson Santanu Sen.
Conversely, the BJP state spokesperson criticised Gandhi’s remarks as divisive, stating, “It is astonishing how Rahul Gandhi can make such remarks that hint at sub-nationalism. This is unexpected from a leader of a national party.” Gandhi’s assertion coincides with efforts by the Congress management to placate Mamata Banerjee, whom they regard as an “important pillar” of the opposition coalition. The Congress management has just lately exuded confidence find a approach ahead to resolve the stalemate within the state.
Declining to connect a lot significance to a verbal duel between its Bengal unit and the TMC, Congress basic secretary Jairam Ramesh disregarded the arguments taking place between the Congress unit in Bengal and the TMC, saying it’s a standard a part of a democratic alliance.
“It is quite natural in an alliance that state leaders of two parties will make statements and counter statements. It is a sign of an inner democracy within the alliance. And in Bengal, the Congress’s fight is against the BJP and so is that of the TMC. Mamata Ji has never said that the TMC is not part of the INDIA alliance,” he mentioned.
Asserting that the priorities of Mamata Banerjee and the Congress are the identical, Ramesh underscored the necessity to “fight against the divisive ideologies of the RSS and the BJP.” Reiterating Banerjee as an “important pillar” of the TMC, Ramesh mentioned, “discussions are still ongoing about seat-sharing in Bengal.” The CPI (M) and Left events, allies of the Congress within the state and the INDIA bloc on the nationwide stage, joined the yatra.
However, the TMC has chosen to abstain, citing a lack of knowledge in regards to the yatra.
Addressing a gathering in Siliguri, the place the yatra paused for the evening earlier than resuming from Uttar Dinajpur on Monday, Gandhi lambasted the BJP authorities on the Centre for allegedly fomenting hatred and violence whereas prioritizing company pursuits over these of the poor and the youth.
He mentioned, “The youth of the country used to wake up in the morning and work hard, to become fit so that they could join the army. But now the BJP government has brought ‘Agniveer’, in which youth will get jobs in the armed forces only for four years. Agniveers will not get the facilities and financial security that regular army personnel get. Only 25 per cent will be inducted and the remaining would have to leave.” “Hatred and violence are being spread across the country. It will serve no purpose. Instead of spreading hatred, we have to work towards spreading love and justice for our youths. The Union government is working only for big corporations and not for the poor and the youth,” he mentioned.
Accusing the BJP and RSS of propagating hatred and violence, Gandhi underscored the essence of the yatra, stating, “The word ‘Nyay’ (justice) has been attached to the yatra because injustice prevails across the country.” “We aspire for an India where even the poorest can dream big and realise their aspirations. We want an India where hard work is honoured. Today, Indian youth struggle to secure employment,” he added.
Sitting atop an SUV together with state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gandhi traversed by means of the city of Jalpaiguri and Siliguri, as he waved at onlookers.
On Monday, the yatra is ready to proceed to Islampur in Uttar Dinajpur district earlier than getting into Bihar within the afternoon.
The yatra had entered Bengal on Wednesday from Assam and had traversed by means of Cooch Behar district earlier than a two-day recess.
The yatra is scheduled to journey 6,713 km over 67 days, traversing 110 districts throughout 15 states earlier than concluding in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.
(This story has not been edited by Information18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
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