Won’t stop yatra, come hail or storm: Rahul Gandhi thunders amid pouring rain in Karnataka

On Gandhi Jayanti, speeches, messaging and pitstops of the Bharat Jodo Yatra revolved around the Mahatma and Gandhian values.

“You will not see any hate or violence in this yatra, but only love and fraternity. Because that is the history and the DNA of India,” Rahul added.

Congress leaders’ show of unity at Bharat Jodo Yatra in Mysuru. (Supplied)

Leaders of the Congress, including KPCC resident DK Shivakumar and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah, stood hand in hand in heavy rains in a show of unity as the yatra ended for the day.

A day after state police was caught on camera stripping and assaulting a Youth Congress worker for sporting a “PayCM” t-shirt, corruption featured prominently in Rahul Gandhi’s speech.

“You know better than me what the BJP government is doing in Karnataka. The chief minister and the party have broken all records of corruption. They take 40 percent commission for everything,” Rahul Gandhi reiterated on Congress’ ongoing campaign against the BJP over allegations of corruption.

Crowds at Bharat Jodo Yatra in Karnataka on Sunday. (Supplied)

The former AICC president has been raking up corruption allegations in Karnataka alongside the issues of inflation and unemployment, which have been the recurring theme of his speeches throughout the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Rahul has met people from several walks of life over the last three days in Karnataka, including families of those who allegedly died due to oxygen shortage in Chamarajanagar government hospital in 2021 during Covid-19. At least 44 people were suspected to have died due to oxygen shortage in the hospital.

Some issues skirted?

The Congress, however, has been accused of filtering questions and sidelining outfits that want to discuss issues other than those proposed by the party.

ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಲು RSS, ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ ರಾಜಕೀಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾತನಾಡುವವರಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡಲಾಯಿತು. ಅದನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬೇರೆ ವಿಚಾರವನ್ನು ಮಾತನಾಡುವವರಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ಸಿಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಸಭೆಯ ನಡುವೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ಸಿಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಶಶಿಕಾಂತ್ ಸೆಂತಿಲ್ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅರ್ಧದಲ್ಲೇ ಎದ್ದು ಬಂದೆ..

— ಅರುಣ್ ಜಾವಗಲ್ | Arun Javgal (@ajavgal) October 1, 2022

Various Kannada language rights activists have raised questions over the Congress not allowing pro-Kannada activists to raise concerns regarding regionalism and federalism.

Arun Javagal, an office-bearer of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) who was asked to travel to Nanjangud to participate in the interaction with Rahul Gandhi, alleged he was denied an opportunity after revealing that he intended to speak about federalism.

CM deems yatra ‘sinister’

Responding to the allegations of corruption reiterated by Rahul against his government, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai deemed the former a “fake Gandhi”.

“The Bharat Jodo Yatra is a sinister campaign. On Gandhi Jayanti, I need not talk about the fake Gandhis. The whole party is on bail. Rahul Gandhi and his mother and AICC president Sonia Gandhi, and the KPCC president are on bail. It’s a bail party, and all the cases are pertaining to corruption,” Bommai lashed out at Congress.

Deeming the allegation of corruption a farce, Bommai demanded documents to back the claims.

“Karnataka was their ATM but not now. That is why they may be unhappy. Everybody knows that there is no 40 percent [commission] here. I will order an inquiry if they give me documents where such things have happened,” the chief minister said.