New Delhi: The Bharat Jodo Yatra has infused a new enthusiasm among Congress workers and leaders, Jairam Ramesh said on Monday. Accusing BJP and RSS of fanning hatred, the party General Secretary Communication said Congress will give them a suitable and aggressive response in time.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital on the fifth day of the foot march, Ramesh said the Yatra is getting a good response from people and is heading in the right direction.
“One of the aims of Bharat Jodo was to imbibe new life in the party. After five days, I can say we are seeing a new enthusiasm in the party,” Ramesh said.
He said that the crowds that swell each morning are joining organically on their own, and around 4,000 to 5,000 people are joining the Yatra in the morning sessions.
In the evening sessions, Congress workers mobilize a crowd, around 25,000 to 30,000 people are joining the Yatra.
“Bharat Jodo Yatra is heading in the right direction,” he said.
Ramesh said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is scared of the Yatra and is hence launching attacks on the Congress. He said the BJP is not used to aggressive responses from Congress.
“The manner in which BJP and its surrogates had fanned hatred, prejudice, lies, falsehood… The RSS and the BJP are not used to aggressive responses from Congress. When Congress gives an aggressive response, they step back,” said Ramesh.
“If they will be aggressive we will be double aggressive,” he said.
The Congress leader added that the aim of the Bharat Jodo Yatra is to ‘unite the nation ‘, and fight ‘divisive forces.
Responding to a question on Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with Padre George Ponnaiah on September 10 which stirred controversy, Ramesh said Congress does not agree with the points made by the priest.
“We don’t agree with what the Padre said, but look at what Rahul Gandhi said. Anurag Thakur is sitting (MP) in Parliament, and outside he says ‘Goli Maro’… we sit and work with Anurag Thakur in Parliament,” he said.
“Sadhvi Niranjana divided India into two parts, one ‘Ramzade’, and she used another word which I will not use… Godse worshipper Pragya Thakur is a Lok Sabha MP,” he said.
Ramesh also said that a strong Congress is needed to build a strong Opposition, and said the Yatra is also aimed at strengthening the Congress.
‘”All parties are looking at Congress… Opposition unity will be possible only when Congress is strong. Opposition unity does not mean weakening Congress, our allies should also understand that,” he said.
“Bharat Jodo Yatra is not for opposition unity but for strengthening Congress,” he said.
The Yatra was launched from Kanyakumari on September 7, and the foot march started on the morning of September 8.
The Yatra will cover a distance of over 3,500 km, crossing 12 states and two union territories, over a period of around five months.
