Congress stands for unity, BJP for uniformity: Jairam Ramesh

NANDED, Nov 9:
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said his party stands for unity while the BJP believes in uniformity, and asserted that their Bharat Jodo Yatra is not “mann ki baat” but aims to highlight people’s concerns.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP do not believe in ”unity in diversity ” of which India is an example, Ramesh said addressing a press conference in Maharashtra’s Nanded district during the Congress’s ongoing foot march.
The Congress’s critics have also been taking part in the yatra as it is the only party which can take on the ruling BJP, he claimed and said the foot march, which began on September 7 from Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu), was not a ”chunav jeeto yatra” (for winning election).
“Only time will tell what impact the yatra will have on the electoral fortunes of the Congress, but it has reenergised the party organisation and infused a breathe of fresh air,” he said.
Ramesh also said the Bharat Jodo Yatra is a “direct conversation” between people and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the public gets to see the real Rahul Gandhi, who is not like the BJP projects him.
”The Congress stands for unity, while the BJP believes in uniformity,” he said.
“This is a programme of mass contact which we lost because we were in office and are now rediscovering when not in office,” the Congress leader said.
He said Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala, is not allowed to speak in Parliament.
“He (Gandhi) is shouted down when he stands to speak. The Speaker doesn’t give him time. He is a member of the standing committee on defence but is not allowed to ask questions on China,” Ramesh claimed.
The Congress leader further said their yatra is not a “mann ki baat”, but it is to highlight “janta ki chinta” (public’s concerns) over the problems faced by the country.
”The country is being broken due to the intentions and policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Economic disparity is growing, resulting in price rise, unemployment. There is social polarisation by the BJP for political and electoral interests,” the Congress leader claimed.
“Political dictatorship” is growing and all powers and authority are concentrated in the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office), he further claimed.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation have destroyed the economy, he said.
Ramesh said the Bharat Jodo yatra will cover half of its total distance of 3,570 km by Thursday evening.
Maharashtra has given new energy to the yatra and it will cover 24 km on Wednesday instead of 22 km being covered daily, he added.
”The yatra will conclude in January 2023 end or early February. No hurdles can stop the march. There was an attempt to shut down our social media handles but we got a reprieve from the Karnataka High Court,” he said. (PTI)