Imphal: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led East to West Hybrid Yatra the “Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra”, which emphasizes on the Economic, Social and Political Justice begins from a private land (which the Congress named Nyay Maidan) in Khongjom near Khongjom War Memorial Complex in Thoubal District of Manipur on Sunday. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge unveiled the bus that will ferry Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders and flagged off the Yatra after a public function.

Before start of the Yatra, Rahul speaking at the public function held at Nyay Maidan, said “the next vision of Hindustan should be not violence, not hatred, not monopolies, but  a vision of harmonies, equitability and brother ship”

With strong emotion, Rahul said “Question arises on Why? Nyay Yatra”, it is because we are going through a great injustice in India, in terms of social, economic and political injustice. “Injustice against the people of Manipur, the traditions of Manipur, but also injustice across the nation”, he added.

Coming out strongly against BJP, he said that economically, monopolies are built, and few people are getting access to all the wealth of the nation. One or two businesses have their fingers in everything and the large majority of business, small and medium businesses are being destroyed.

High levels of unemployment, massive price rise is what the whole of India is facing right now. On the social side the large massive Indian people, the lower caste, dalits, tribals, simply do not have a say with the governance system of the country.

“I can give example upon example of how the large mass of our people are excluded from the political and governance system. So, these are the issues that the Bharat Jojo Nyay Yatra is going to raise. But this is less about us and more about you (the people)”, the Congress leader said.

Rahul also proudly said “we don’t want to say what we think, we want to hear from you, know your pain”.

Speaking about Manipur, Rahul said, “We understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through, we understand the hurt, the loss, the sadness that you have been through. We promise and commit to you that we will bring back what you valued, we will bring back the harmony, the peace, the affection that the state has always known for”.

Putting the blame on what is happening in the state, he said “what is happening in Manipur, is just a mere spot of the politics of BJP, the hatred of BJP and RSS and their approach”.

He also said that when he came to Manipur on June 29, 2023, “what he saw and heard was something he had never seen or heard before”.

Explaining his travel experience in 2023, he said that he arrived in a state in Hindustan, where governance infrastructure had fully collapsed. “What we called Manipur was no more, divided, hatred in all corners, lakhs suffering, brothers, sisters, parents dead”, he added.

Rahul said, “PM Narendra Modi has not even come to Manipur to wipe the tears, hug, hold your hands and its so shameful”. He also tried to made an emotional connection with the people of the state by saying “for PM Modi, BJP and RSS, Manipur is not a part of India. Your pain and sorrow is not their pain and sorrow”.

He said, a brother told me “we have lost what is most precious to us”, and it is because of the ideology and politics of BJP, because of the hatred that BJP and RSS spread in their Politics”

Rahul also made a bold promise saying “You have lost what you valued, but we(Congress) will find what you valued once again and bring it back to you”.

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived at Imphal International airport at around 1:30 PM. He was accompanied by other prominent leaders of the Congress party like Anand Sharma, Salman Khurshid; Digvijaya Singh; Randeep Singh Surjewala; Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot; Abhishek Manu Singhvi; Rajeev Shukla, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah; Karnataka Deputy CM D.K Shivakumar; Manish Tiwari  in the special Indigo flight.

After landing at the airport, Rahul and other leaders were welcomed by MPCC President Keisham Meghachandra; CLP leader Okram Ibobi, CWC member Gaikhangam, MPCC Vice President K.Ranjit; Congress MLA Th.Lokeshwor and other leaders of AICC and MPCC. From the airport, the convoy headed to Khongjom in Thoubal district.

After arriving at Khongjom, Rahul along with other Congress leaders first visited the Khongjom War Memorial Complex and offered floral tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the Anglo Manipur War of 1891 against the British to protest the independence of the once princely kingdom.

Later, Rahul, AICC President Malik Arjun Kharge and other leaders arrived at Nyay Maidan for the flagging off and public meeting. Upon entering the arena, Rahul along with the leaders and public who came there to take part in the flagging off function sang “Vande Mataram ''. Later, a one-minute silence was also observed as a mark of tribute to the lives lost in the unending ethnic violence which began from May 3rd, 2023.

Before the public meeting began, AICC President Malikarjun unveiled the bus which will ferry Rahul Gandhi during the yatra. The AICC President also handed the tri color flag to Rahul in the state. After the public meeting was over, Rahul got inside the bus and Malikarjun flagged off the Yatra.

From Thoubal, the yatra move towards Imphal with Rahul and other Congress accompanying him. During the short journey towards Imphal, the bus carrying Rahul met several stops as the Congress leader met many people waiting for him at several areas. In one such stop in Kakwa at Imphal West, Rahul was gifted with a pack of famous “Watin-a type of fried long Bhujiya” by a lady. Rahul was seen munching the food.

Rahul and his entourage halted at Sekmai in Imphal West District for the day. And today morning he departed for Kagpokpi district and is going to attend a public meeting at Brigadier Thomas ground at Kangpokpi District Headquarter.