Rahul attacks BJP-RSS as his long march progresses

ALAPPUZHA:PEOPLE gathered in large numbers on either side of the road in solidarity as Rahul Gandhi’s long march continued to traverse the picturesque backwater district of Alappuzha on Monday.

The walk that began from India’s southern tip of Kanyakumari in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu on Sept.7 has been receiving tremendous response in these two states so far.

The Congress party leader targets Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in his speeches everyday.

He describes how the BJP-RSS combine has “divided India along religious, caste and language lines” and why he embarked on this mass outreach programme.

Bharat Jodo or unite India march will culminate in the northern state of Kashmir in 150 days, walking some 3,571 km covering close to 25 km every day with a mid-week break.

The organisers, which include civil society representatives like Yogendra Yadav, call it a “movement to march against the neglect of people’s aspirations by the government.”

“The socio-cultural fabric of India has been torn apart by divisive forces. Our economy is collapsing,” the yatra’s concept plan says.

“Price rise and unemployment have turned people’s hope into despair. Political centralisation of power has decimated our democracy.”

“It was the Congress party that led the batle against the British and it’ll be the Congress that will unite the country again in this fight against the politics of hate and bigotry.”

Some 120 marchers from across the country walked with Gandhi all along vowing to “free India from the shackles of unemployment, price rise and divisive politics.”

The crowds swell by leaps and bounds as it advances through the national highway before it reaches the night halt point where Gandhi makes a brief speech.

They all sleep in containers converted into makeshit dorms mounted on trucks. A team of medics and supporting staff, including cooks and washers also accompany them.