‘What lapse… man came to hug me’: Rahul Gandhi after security breach claims during Bharat Jodo Yatra

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“I have verified it. Rahul ji himself called him (the man) and then he tried to hug him (the Congress MP). After that Warring pushed him away as the Yatra moves with a certain speed and it affects its movement,” Dhillon said, adding there was nothing to suggest that it was a security breach.

Later at a press conference, Gandhi also said there was no security breach. “I do not know why you are calling that a (security) lapse. I think the person was checked by the security people, he was a bit over-excited. There is quite a lot of enthusiasm in the Yatra, many people get over-excited and that was the case where he was a bit extra charged up, so there is no problem in that. It has happened many a time before. I wouldn’t call that a security lapse,” said Gandhi.

On advise to Mann

Responding to a query on what prompted him to advise Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that Punjab should be run from Punjab only and not from Delhi, when he had been maintaining that his Bharat Jodo Yatra was ‘apolitical’, Gandhi said, “I have gently told [Punjab] CM about the Punjabi culture, and Punjabi history. This is historical fact and not a new thing that Punjab could be run from Punjab only. If Punjab is run from Delhi, the people of Punjab will not accept it, and will react. This is not political talk, this is fact. This Punjabi pride, Punjabi self belief, confidence, it will never accept this and generally we have respected this in Congress party.”

Watch | Man breaches Rahul Gandhi’s security ring at #BharatJodoYatra in #Punjab. The party later denied it was a security breach, saying Rahul had invited people to meet him pic.twitter.com/UXn92m0Y4E

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) January 17, 2023

‘Economic distress to cost BJP’

The former Congress chief also asserted that it is abundantly clear that economic distress, price rise and unemployment will deal a “severe blow” to the BJP in the upcoming elections in various states.

Attacking the BJP government over “income inequality”, Gandhi said the country’s 21 richest people have wealth which is equal to what 70 crore Indians have. One percent of the richest Indians have 40 per cent wealth of the country, he claimed. “So, you (media) are playing a role of distraction…but your role should be of a watchdog,” he said.

To a question on agriculture sector, Gandhi said there is a non-stop attack on farmers from multiple sides. He said farmers will be the central focus of the Congress governments wherever they are in power. “We spoke of Nyay Yojana, minimum guaranteed income for the poor. Our vision is agriculture-centric and we want there should be cold chains, technology in the agriculture sector and jobs should be created,” he said.