Senior Congress leader and former party president Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that there was an ideological battle going on in the country.

Addressing a public meeting on the sixth day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here, Gandhi alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had set Manipur on fire and there was a civil war-like situation in the state.

Advertisement

He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi not visited the state till date. Similarly, he added, the prime minister made several promises to the people of Nagaland about nine years ago but none of them unfulfilled till date.

The Congress leader said the Nyay Yatra was aimed at undoing the injustice being done by the RSS and the BJP in the country and providing justice to the people.

He pointed out that the 4,000 km Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir had greatly succeeded in uniting people from different states and sections of the society. Similarly the Nyay Yatra will lead to justice against the injustice of the RSS and the BJP.

Referring to the Adivasis, who attended the meeting, Mr Gandhi said, the RSS and the BJP wanted to deny them their rights over land, water and forests.

He said while the Congress identifies them as ‘Adivasis’, meaning the original inhabitants of the land thereby having rights over their resources like land, water and forests, the BJP identifies them as ‘vanvasis’, and wants them to remain confined to the jungles. He alleged that the BJP does not want their children to get educated even.

Gandhi reiterated his charge against the Assam Chief Minister, saying he is the most corrupt Chief Minister in the country.

Starting from Nimati Ghat to take the ferry for Sri Sri Auniati Satra, Gandhi covered about 110 kms on the sixth day today.

Meanwhile, party general secretary in charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh said it was abundantly clear that the Assam CM is rattled and is nervous by the tremendous response being received by the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra over the past 2 days in Assam.

“People from all sections of Assam’s diverse society and people of all ages have been enthusiastically welcoming Rahul Gandhi. The visuals speak for themselves”, he pointed out, adding, “the Assam CM can abuse and defame, he can threaten and intimidate but we are not afraid. He is obviously disturbed by the huge impact of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which will continue in Assam for another 6 days inspite of his continuing efforts to derail it”.

As the Nyay Yatra moved in Assam, on its second day here Rahul took a ferry over the river Brahmaputra to reach the temple. He said it was a great experience and feeling to be there. He said, Assam the land of Shankar Dev, with great history and culture teaches us to carry everyone along.

Gandhi met a group of environmental activists, intellectuals and affected people from the northern bank of Brahmaputra. They discussed ecological destruction caused by the construction of multiple dams which the BJP government has cleared without proper environmental assessment.

He also interacted with members of the ‘Missing’ community, who demanded that their million plus community deserves protection of Sixth Schedule and recognition of their language in the Eighth Schedule.