Responsibility of all in Bengal to stand united against hatred: Rahul Gandhi in Siliguri

He delivered his speech from his vehicle after the local administration did not give permission for the public meeting that the Congress had scheduled in Siliguri.

In his address, Rahul did not mention Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose JD(U) earlier in the day left the Opposition INDIA bloc and joined the BJP-led NDA, or West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.

There was a different tone to the Jalpaiguri-Siliguri portion of the yatra. In Cooch Behar, where the West Bengal leg of the yatra began on January 25, participants faced protests in several places, with many protesters holding pro-TMC placards.

On Sunday, however, the yatra saw big crowds lining the streets to greet the Congress leaders and workers, and no signs of protests. Other than Rahul Gandhi, senior party leaders Jairam Ramesh, Adhir Ranjan Chowhury and Deepa Dasmunsi were part of the yatra and spoke at the rally.

Rahul Gandhi speaking to party workers during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Siliguri, West Bengal. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

While one of Congress’s INDIA bloc allies – TMC – chose not to take part in the yatra, another – CPI(M) – joined in.

CPI(M) supporters carrying red flags joined the Congress yatra in Siliguri and announced full support. “We are giving full support to Nyay Yatra. We (the CPM) had said that if TMC stays away from the yatra, we would participate. I came here to give solidarity to Rahul Gandhi and his fight against BJP,” said CPI(M) state secretariat member Jibesh Sarkar, who took part in the yatra.

Relations between the Congress and the TMC have been tense in recent days, with Congress’s Bengal unit chief, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, alleging that TMC workers had torn yatra posters in Cooch Behar and threatened his party members. The ruling TMC has rejected the allegation.

A day after Chowdhury’s allegations, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to CM Banerjee, urging her to ensure its smooth passage in the state. In his letter, Kharge expressed fear that miscreants may try to show the state administration in a bad light or disrupt the yatra.

On Sunday, however, Congress general secretary Ramesh brushed aside arguments between the two parties as a normal part of a democratic alliance. “Our alliance is democratic. No one person or party controls it. Before the election, there may be many differences, but during the election, Mamata Banerjee will fight against the BJP and the RSS, and we will also fight against the BJP and the RSS,” he said in Jalpaiguri.

In his speech in Siliguri, Rahul Gandhi criticised the Centre, saying the youth were not getting jobs. “This country is a country of love, but gradually it is becoming a country of hatred. This happened because now the youth in this country are not getting jobs after completing their education…”

“The Central government is working for four or five business families. But we need a country where poor people also dream, and the youth can work. Those who work, they get honour, but those who do dalali (the work of a broker) do not get honour. People want to do work with honour,” he said.