Rahul Gandhi targets BJP-RSS

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Bharat Jodo Yatra is the only option left with the Opposition to fight against the Central government which he accused of “controlling” all democratic institutions in the country.

“In a democracy there are separate institutions. There is media, there is Parliament. All these roads for the Opposition have been closed. Media does not print our views. The media is fully controlled by the government. When we want to speak in Parliament, our mikes are switched off. State assemblies are not allowed to run. Opposition (leaders) are arrested. Therefore this is the only path (yatra) left with the Opposition,” he said here.

Gandhi’s march entered Karnataka at Gundlupet from the Tamil Nadu border at Gudlur.

“And no power can stop us from walking this path. Because we are not walking in it. This is the voice of India. This yatra is listening to people’s pains and sufferings. So, speeches are limited to a few minutes, while walking and lending an ear is held from morning till evening,” he told a gathering.

He said people of all faiths, caste and language were taking part in the march “which is a symbol of brotherhood”, Gandhi said, and added that the BJP and RSS were spreading hatred and violence to remain in power.

The march will cover seven districts of Karnataka covering a distance of about 500 km. Assembly polls are just six months away in the state.

It will pass through Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Mandya, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Ballari and Raichur districts. It will cover seven Lok Sabha and 22 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka.