Interactions with MNREGA workers and unemployed youth were highlights of Day 4 of Rahul Gandhi's padayatra.
Published Sep 11, 2022 | 7:41 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 11, 2022 | 7:41 AM
Rahul Gandhi interacting with unemployed youth on Day 4 of his Bharat Jodo Yatra. (Supplied)
From a controversial meeting between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and pastor George Ponniah to the former being asked by a MNREGA worker to get married to a Tamil girl, Day 4 of the grand old party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra was an eventful one.
It also marked the last leg of the padayatra in Tamil Nadu. From Sunday, 11 September, the walk will resume from Kerala.
The day began with flag hoisting at Mulagumoodu town panchayat in Kanniyakumari district. It was followed by a welcome ceremony for Gandhi by primary school children studying at the St Mary’s international school.
While on Friday, Gandhi met sanitation workers, tribal activists, farmers and popular YouTubers, on Saturday, he interacted with students, unemployed youth, specially-abled rights activists, fisherwomen and MNREGA workers.
Interestingly, during the interaction with the MNREGA workers in Marthandam, a woman, “knowing Gandhi’s love for Tamil Nadu”, asked him to get married to a Tamil girl. According to Jairam Ramesh, the Congress’ in-charge for communications, this left the Gandhi scion “amused”, with a big smile on his face.
There was not much to smile about after Gandhi’s meeting with controversial pastor Ponniah. The BJP tweeted a 13-second video of the meeting where the pastor is heard saying that “Jesus is the real God, unlike Shakti”, triggering a row with the saffron party attacking the Congress for using “Bharat Todo icons” for its Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Gandhi also interacted with unemployed youth while undertaking the padayatra. A group of youngsters wearing “I am walking for job” T-shirts spoke to the Congress MP from Wayanad about the plight of the young and the unemployed.
Rahul Gandhi interacting with MNREGA workers in Tamil Nadu on Day 4 of his Bharat Jodo Yatra. (Supplied)
About their meeting Gandhi, a young engineering graduate, who has been jobless for the past three years, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to deliver on the promise of creating two crore jobs every year.
“You are our only hope, sir. Please make unemployment the main agenda for 2024,” he was heard telling Rahul Gandhi.
Tweeting about his interaction with the unemployed youngsters, Gandhi said: “42% of our youth are unemployed. Is Bharat’s future secure if theirs isn’t? We walk for them all. We walk for jobs.”
What also caught the attention of many was the presence of Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar at the padayatra. A video of him raising Tamil slogans was also widely shared by many.
The day’s journey ended across the Tamil Nadu border in Cheruvarakonam in Kerala.
42% of our youth are unemployed.
Is Bharat’s future secure if theirs isn’t?
We walk for them all.
We walk for jobs. pic.twitter.com/e6vC5UnsPS— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 10, 2022
As we bid adieu to the land of Thiruvalluvar & Kamaraj, I thank the people of Tamil Nadu for the immense love & support you have given to #BharatJodoYatra🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/glgbPzAKis
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 10, 2022
