Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, launched the four-day ‘Haryana Vijay Sankalp Yatra’ for October 5 assembly polls, targeting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government in Haryana for “benefiting the big corporate houses and ignoring youths, farmers and poor”. “The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) belongs to big industrialists and Haryana does not need such a government. In Haryana, what we need is not a government of the elite, but one that prioritizes the needs of farmers, labourers, and the underprivileged,” he said addressing a gathering before commencing the Yatra commenced in Naraingarh of Ambala district.
Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP government, asserting that it functions as “Adani’s government” rather than representing the people of Haryana.
He emphasized that the people of Haryana do not need “Adani’s government,” but one that genuinely addresses their needs. “My goal is to redistribute as much money as Modi has given to his friends back to the poor, oppressed, and underprivileged of India,” he declared, drawing thunderous applause from the audience.
He highlighted severe issues plaguing the state, including rampant unemployment, inflation, and the controversial Agniveer scheme, which he characterized as a scheme to deprive soldiers of their rightful pensions. He pointed out that many young individuals in Haryana are forced to spend exorbitant amounts to seek jobs abroad due to the lack of local opportunities. “The youth of Haryana are spending 50 lakh rupees to risk their lives overseas because there are no jobs here,” he lamented.
Promising Caste Census the Congress leader also touched on the lack of representation for marginalized communities, stating that OBCs, Dalits, minorities, and tribal populations are significantly underrepresented in governance, with only a handful of OBCs among the 90 officials running the central government.
Priyanka also addressed the crowd, invoking the spirit of justice associated with Haryana’s rich history. She criticized the BJP for the humiliation faced by the people of Haryana over the past decade, including the mistreatment of farmers and youth. “In the last ten years, the people of Haryana have only received disrespect,” she asserted, adding that it is time for the Congress to restore dignity and honor to the citizens of Haryana.
Priyanka emphasized that the BJP government had failed to fulfil its promises to farmers, women, and youth, stating, “The BJP is going, and Congress is coming back. The honor of the people is returning.” She urged the public to support Congress candidates in the upcoming elections, framing it as a vote for justice and equity.
The Yatra marks a return of the Congress to the political arena in Haryana, following a period of relative quiet. Starting at 11 am, Rahul and Priyanka traversed around 100 kilometers in an open jeep, directly engaging with the people and addressing pressing local issues. This Yatra is part of Congress’s strategy to counter the BJP’s extensive campaigning, which has dominated the political landscape in the region.
The Yatra covered a series of constituencies from Ambala and Kurukhsetra districts as both the leaders addressed several gatherings towns, including Yamunanagar, Mulana, Shahabad, and culminated in a grand assembly in Kurukshetra. With two more Yatras planned before the campaign period concludes on October 3, Rahul Gandhi aims to replicate the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, covering more ground in less time to galvanize support for Congress. During their visit the Gandhi siblings also met with the employees and drivers of the Safexpress warehouse and listened to their issues. The yatra will resume on Tuesday from Bahadurgarh and will cover several constituencies of Jhajjar and Soninpat districts.
