Exactly 80 years after Mahatma Gandhi gave the “Bharat Chhodo” ultimatum to the British, Rahul Gandhi has started his 150-day-long “Bharat Jodo Yatra” from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. While the Yatra has played second fiddle to Bollywood movie Brahmastra in the media and social media, a large number of people believe the Yatra has provided more entertainment than the over-hyped film.
Rahul’s Yatra got the apt beginning it deserved in Kanyakumari. The Swami from whom he recently received “Linga Deeksha” is in jail on molestation charges. Janeudhari Shiv Bhakt was now discussing Jesus with a pastor arrested in the past for hate speech against Hindus. Rahul listened with rapt attention as George Ponnaiah said, “Jesus is the true God. Not like Shakti and all.” Ponnaiah had earlier claimed, “Bharat Mata spreads diseases. We wear shoes to avoid touching Bharat Mata.” He also had wished horrible death for PM Modi and Amit Shah. Rahul is a quick learner. Some months ago, he had declared “India is not a nation, but a Union of States.” He repeated this in his Cambridge University talk. Now he wants to connect this Union of States into a Nation. After all, he’s the heir apparent of the Indian “National” Congress. Congress has an assembly-line of intellectuals to match Rahul in intelligence. Dr Shama Mohammed explained the reason for Yatra spending 18 days in relatively tiny Kerala compared to just two days in a massive State like Uttar Pradesh. Kerala is a vertical State while Uttar Pradesh is horizontal. The Yatra is a vertical exercise, heading North from South. Hence Kerala deserves 18 days of Rahul’s precious time.
There’s enormous enthusiasm among the people. Rahul Gandhi holding hands of two young girls reminded the followers of the Mahatma. Rahul truly is walking in the footsteps of Mahatma. Walking hand in hand with beautiful young girls is Rahul’s idea of “Women’s empowerment”. He’s obviously inspired by his great grandfather Chacha Nehru. People are asking, “How can a politician be so handsome, yet so simple and humble? He has absolutely no hatred. He’ll conquer India with love.” When Rahul was canvassing during the 2014 General election, a native of Amethi asked, “Amethi always voted for you. Why are our roads so bad?” Rahul replied, with all grace and humility, “Go and work for BJP.” He helped his political rival BJP to find supporters in his bastion. Thanks to Rahul’s magnanimity, BJP won Amethi in 2019. A Hijabi lady walked 970 metres from Sreekariyam in Thiruvananthapuram to Chavadimukku in Trivandrum just to see Rahul. Kind and gentle that he is, Rahul gave the tired lady some mineral water. He even helped her to drink as she wasn’t able to drink by herself. Malayalam media lapped up the beautiful moment for posterity. In his genuine eagerness to meet the ordinary folks, Rahul skipped the inauguration of a memorial for freedom fighters KE Mammen and P Gopinathan Nair at Neyyattinkara. Born in a family of multiple freedom fighters, Rahul places ordinary citizens above freedom fighters.
Ill-informed people are asking, “What is the purpose of this Yatra? It’s not giving enough time to States where Congress is weak. With Rahul apparently reluctant to accept the post of Congress President, what message is he sending to people? Is he even making an effort to bring all opposition parties together?” People are way too ignorant. Rahul is not out there to win elections. He’s out to win hearts and moral victories. We’ve to remember Rahul has spent half the days of the past eight years travelling abroad, trying to understand India. Such a person is making a huge sacrifice by staying in India for 150 days at a stretch. And why is he sleeping in a container? He’s trying to understand the plight of students forced to study inside containers in Kejriwal’s Delhi model Government Schools. That’s quintessential Rahul. Even as he’s traversing through Southern most regions of India, he’s thinking of kids in Delhi. As Rahul trades forward with his “Bharat Jodo Yatra”, eight MLAs of his party in Goa went on “Congress Chhodo Yatra”. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kuldeep Bishnoi, Kapil Sibal and several other leaders have already left. But Rahul carries on unperturbed, often reminding us of the Angrezon Ke Zamaane Ka Jailer from the movie Sholay. Rahul will carry on with his Yatra even if a single pigeon is following him. Rahul is a healthy 52-year-old young man. But there are older people and people with chronic illnesses in his entourage. Hence there is a team of over a dozen Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics and a truckload of medicines. Rahul cares for his people and this is the care he wants to give to the entire India. Bring the entire India on the roads. A Congress leader from Kerala has aptly summarised the essence of Rahul’s Yatra. From 2004 till 2019, Congress was launching and relaunching Rahul with the help of “India Today”. This time, they’re reinventing him. Rahul is reinventing himself by establishing contacts with the grassroots. He will be staying at various Churches, Mosques and Schools apart from travelling in containers.
The “Khaki knicker burning photo” has sent an unambiguous message that Congress is part of the “Dismantle Global Hindutva” mission. “The Missionary” has made his position clear with Marxists and Mullahs.
