Exclusive: Switzerland returned Dalit man who joined Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra reveals shocking facts

During the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, visuals of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi engaging in everyday tasks alongside ordinary citizens were shared widely. This garnered him significant attention, with many hailing him as the champion of the marginalised. Thousands flocked to join him, alarmed by perceived threats to democracy. However, behind the glossy facade, the reality was different.

One such individual is Nitin Parmar, a businessman who left his life in Switzerland to join Gandhi’s Yatra, only to face discrimination based on his Dalit identity, exploitation due to his foreign origins, and dismal living conditions. After being part of the journey for 91 days, Parmar recounts the arrogance of its leadership and the absence of a guiding light, that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of the party.

Before delving further into this saga, it’s crucial to understand the genesis of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Launched amidst fanfare on August 23, 2022, the march symbolised a journey of unity, spanning 3,570 kilometres across twelve states and two Union Territories.

Yet, as the Yatra wound its way from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, it became clear that the road to unity was fraught with pitfalls. For Nitin Parmar, once a thriving businessman in Switzerland, the journey became a harrowing testament to shattered dreams and broken promises. Hailing from a political lineage in Gujarat, his father Karsandas U Parmar’s legacy loomed large, a stark reminder of the ideals the Congress had once embodied.

On May 15, in an exclusive conversation with Organiser, Parmar, currently in India, recounted his tumultuous experience during the Yatra and the hardships he endured over the course of three months.

Parmar revealed that he had been deeply swayed by YouTubers discussing the uncertain state of Bharat. Influencers like Dhruv Rathee and others had warned alongside the Congress that democracy would falter under the Modi regime. As he delved deeper into Congress’s politics, Parmar found himself drawn to Rahul’s innovative approach. The announcement of the Bharat Jodo Yatra elevated his expectations, prompting him to pledge his support upon his return to India.

Despite reaching out to coordinators and expressing his eagerness to join the Yatra, Parmar encountered silence, particularly from Digvijay Singh, the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. This initial lack of response seemed like a warning, but Parmar’s determination overrode his doubts.

Upon his return to India in October, Parmar found himself embroiled in a bureaucratic maze. Coordinators in Karnataka and Telangana offered vague responses, leading to last-minute changes in his joining location. Despite the hurdles, Parmar finally gained entry to the Yatra from Nanded, Maharashtra.

First day of the Yatra

His first day on the Yatra proved nightmarish. Despite being invited to join, Parmar faced barriers to accommodation and food due to language differences, with most volunteers conversing in Marathi. Even after repeated pleas, the language barrier remained insurmountable.

He recounts his plight, sharing how he lacked proper storage for his belongings during the Yatra. On the first day, he finally secured a spot to rest at 3 am, only to wake and embark on a gruelling 21-kilometre trek with volunteers who had already departed. Though he informed his family of the challenges, they urged him to persevere, echoing the resilience of his father, who championed two major movements in Gujarat.

Despite the hardships, Parmar steeled himself to face whatever obstacles came his way. Eager to connect with fellow participants and understand their motivations, he was disheartened to find that many seemed more fixated on catching a glimpse of Gandhi than engaging with the Yatra’s purpose.

Congress’ loot culture

As they traversed Maharashtra and entered Madhya Pradesh, Parmar hoped for respite in a Hindi-speaking state. However, his troubles only intensified. The lack of a Yatra coordinator in Madhya Pradesh compounded his difficulties, leaving him stranded without assistance. It was only after invoking his father’s name and recounting his journey from Switzerland to join the Yatra that he managed to secure a space on a luxury bus for his belongings.

Yet, even this reprieve was short-lived. The bus began departing without him, leaving Parmar to struggle with basic necessities like finding a place to brush his teeth or hang wet clothes. What might seem trivial in the comfort of one’s home became monumental challenges once he stepped outside, Parmar added.

Parmar reminisced about his time in Switzerland, where he had specifically bought track pants for the yatra at a cost of 180 Swiss francs each. However, one of them was misplaced in the hotel where they were staying. He had asked numerous people to get it, but the entire Congress youth wing turned against him, painting him as a villain. As a result, he became known within the group as a foreigner, and a culture of looting and bullying ensued.

He confided in Digvijay Singh, who had been a good friend of his father’s, about the behaviour of the workers, but Singh seemed to ignore his concerns as if he never knew him. Their attitude was as if they were doing an ‘upkar‘ (favour) by allowing people to join them.

This correspondent inquired if their behaviour was due to his family’s affiliations with the BJP. Parmar responded that this should not have been the reason, as, by 1996–97, his father had joined the Congress along with Jitendra Bhai Desai.

“Ideally, they should have considered my efforts to travel from Europe to India for the yatra, rather than my family’s political history. If I compare this with the BJP, whose events I have attended, it is a completely wonderful experience, from the welcome to everything, it is something very down to earth.”

Ghamandiya attitude

“Now I understand why there is a party with such rooted volunteers, whether in power or not, and on the other hand, there is this party that is so rude and arrogant, especially when not in power. Our Prime Minister once described this ‘arrogant’ nature as ‘Ghamandiya,’ and it is still accurate today. This arrogance is what is causing the Congress to break apart,” Parmar concluded.

He said if he had to sum up the current position of Congress, he would say, “Nobody is a follower, everyone is a leader.”

During his 91 days in the yatra, Parmar observed numerous issues and a few positive aspects. He noted, “Rahul ji was walking, and thousands of people were joining.” The crowds were substantial, often reaching hundreds of thousands. The yatra’s route planning and camp locations were well-organised, but managing the crowds and participants was a challenge.

Some individuals who joined the yatra arrived in luxurious cars, wearing dry-cleaned dresses and suits. They would walk a short distance, then return to their vehicles, with many women also participating in this manner.

VVIP vs the commoner’s camp

Regarding the camps, there were two types: one for VVIPs and Rahul Gandhi, and another for common participants like Parmar. Access to the VIP camps was restricted. On one occasion, when Parmar fell ill due to the food, he was allowed to enter the VIP camp to eat. He described the VIP camp’s amenities as surpassing those of a five-star hotel, with an extensive menu including soups, salads, starters, vegetarian and non-vegetarian main courses, various bread options, multiple desserts, ice creams, and more. The ambience of the camp mirrored the grandeur of Mughal-era arrangements, leaving Parmar in awe of the extravagance.

The VIP camp had a picnic-like atmosphere, with volunteers playing volleyball and women playing badminton. There was even an LED screen where leaders watched football matches.

In contrast, the common participants’ camp used low-quality oil for cooking, resulting in oily, unappetizing meals. The menu was limited to a single type of dal, rice, paneer gravy, carrot and radish salad, and chapati. Breakfast was equally uninspiring, with poha and tea, and people had to queue for their meals. If they didn’t get food, no one cared. The conditions were unhygienic, unsuitable for those walking long distances under the sun.

“Live or die, we don’t care, that’s their policy”

In Dausa village, Rajasthan, Parmar fainted on the road and was admitted to a nearby government hospital. The doctor suggested he rest in a hotel, but when he returned to the camp, no one inquired about his health. This lack of concern was hurtful.

When asked if there were any checks on participants at the beginning or end of the yatra in a day, Parmar replied that this was not the BJP, but the Congress, where such practices were not followed. “Live or die, we don’t care, that’s their policy,” he added.

He then met a local tribal leader, Teja Ram, who arranged a hotel for him and invited him to his home for a meal. This was done in a personal capacity and had nothing to do with the Congress. Teja Ram was also disillusioned with the Congress and its work culture.

Parmar rejoined the yatra in Rajasthan only, with the intent to finish what he had started. He has been actively taking part in such events in Switzerland as well.

The untouchables

Reflecting on his time in Punjab, Parmar noted that girls and women dressed like celebrities were invited to dance on stage, but common participants were not allowed. He couldn’t confirm if Rahul Gandhi was present, as he was not permitted to enter.

He said, “We are untouchables, people from the slum, so we are only used as crowd. They used to order us, ‘Come together, join us in the rally,’ and after the rally, it was like, ‘Who are you? Get out.’ We are used to it.”

This sentiment was reminiscent of the British period, where Indians were used as crowds and then dispersed with force.

Despite these challenges, Parmar continued walking, eventually reaching Jammu. After Delhi, he managed to make friends, and one of them, a car owner, allowed him to keep his bags in his car and offered him rides.

Before this, there was no official arrangement for him. He had to convince a bus driver to let him keep his bags in a luxury bus. Many others in similar situations had to carry their luggage themselves, making the journey difficult. It was disheartening to see such treatment towards those who were walking for the cause.

Cost of meeting Rahul Gandhi

The yatra’s mobile toilets were in poor condition, and by the end of the journey, Parmar had become accustomed to the conditions, just like his fellow participants. He spent over two lakh rupees on the 91-day journey, but the real issue for him was the loss of dignity.

When asked if Rahul Gandhi, who lived next to their camp, had ever visited the common camp, interacted with the people, heard their concerns, or planned the rally with them, Parmar said he never met Gandhi personally during the entire journey. Other leaders like Kamal Nath, Sachin Pilot, and Ashok Gehlot would visit, but Gandhi never came to the common camp. At least he never saw him.

They even asked for money to meet Rahul Gandhi, with rates varying by state. In Madhya Pradesh, the price started at 20,000 rupees and eventually dropped to 10,000 rupees, while in Punjab, it was 35,000 rupees.

Reflecting on his experience, Parmar said, “I feel bad for myself, wondering why such things happened to me. I’m sure Gandhi and the other top leaders have no idea about this, but those coordinating were responsible for these issues.”

In the common camp, there were over a thousand people, including women who had separate camps.

Regarding the videos he watched before joining the yatra, Parmar said, “I won’t generalise that they’re all peddling narratives or lies; there must be some truth to them. Just like me, I can’t generalise that what happened to me in the yatra happened to all participants.”

About their stay in Kashmir and the yatra, they visited a village known for riots, but nothing happened. The volunteers tried to create a negative image of the locals, but Parmar found the people in the valley to be loving and accepting.

Parmar’s perception about Congress before and after yatra

When asked about his perception of the Congress party and their dedication to their cause after spending time with their leaders, Parmar said that he had introspected a lot over the past eight months since returning from the yatra. He had researched for a book on his father and found that the Congress’s behaviour towards his community, the Scheduled Castes, had not changed since the 1950s. The party still uses Dalits as vote banks without having a single leader representing the community who could speak for them.

Another pressing issue within the party is what Parmar describes as a “loot culture.” He explains, “Since they knew I had come from abroad, their sole motive was to exploit me. I encountered another individual who had come from America, and they attempted to exploit him as well. It’s evident within the party that everyone wants to take advantage of each other, and as soon as they’re done, they’ll discard you. There’s no sense of unity or camaraderie.”

Parmar emphasises the necessity for change in this regard, asserting that no agenda or scheme can succeed until this culture is eradicated. He recalls the words of a former Prime Minister who lamented that while one rupee is sent, only ten paisa reaches the ground, highlighting that it’s not the system but the Congress members themselves who squander resources. Parmar firmly believes that without addressing this issue, Congress will continue to falter.

He attributes the prevalence of this culture within the party to the absence of a respected leader who can guide and set policies for the workers to follow. Parmar stresses, “There’s no sense of responsibility, no accountability… they operate with a ‘whatever works’ attitude. This is not how a country should be governed.”

To address these issues, tough decisions must be made, and individuals need to take responsibility and ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner. Even if it’s labelled as a ‘dictatorship’ by some, without someone stepping up to enforce discipline, no amount of schemes or free utilities like water and electricity will make a difference.

Reflecting on his experience, Parmar now regrets joining the Yatra, feeling that it wasn’t where he belonged. However, amidst the challenges, he found solace in connecting with ordinary people and being welcomed into their homes, highlighting the inherent brotherhood and compassion within our nation.