This is an archive article published on January 29, 2024
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As Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra enters Bihar, Rahul silent on Nitish, Jairam Ramesh says his exit won’t affect INDIA
Rahul Gandhi resumes his Yatra from Chopra in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district around 8.30 am and addresses a rally in Bihar’s Kishanganj at 11 am.
Gandhi’s silence on Nitish, however, did not restrain other Congress leaders such as Jairam Ramesh and Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Singh.(PTI Photo)
As Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Bihar through Kishanganj on Monday, a day after Nitish Kumar exited the INDIA bloc, the Congress leader kept silent on the JD(U) chief’s latest U-turn but raised the demand for a caste census.
“No one knows about samajik nyay (social justice) better than Bihar. This country should know how many OBCs, SCs and STs are there. The caste census is necessary. After the caste census, everybody will get to know what is their population and what is their right,” he said addressing a rally.
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Gandhi’s silence on Nitish, however, did not restrain other Congress leaders such as Jairam Ramesh and Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Singh.
Ramesh said at a press conference, “There will be no effect on the INDIA alliance even after the exit of Nitish. My question is, Nitish-ji has been asking questions about the caste census. What will happen to that? Will the BJP react on that basis or not?”
The Congress communication chief added that the BJP had “played such tactics” since the start of the Yatra, citing the exit of Milind Deora from the party and the JD(U) chief’s joining the saffron camp.
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And Singh said, “Whoever wants to go, we have no problem. I can assure Rahulji that even after Nitish Kumar’s exit, Mahagathbandhan of Bihar (RJD, Congress and Left parties) will win a two-thirds majority of the seats in the Lok Sabha election.”
Earlier around 8.30 am, Gandhi resumed his Yatra from Chopra and went to Islampur, both in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district. He later entered Bihar and addressed a rally at the Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Stadium in Kishanganj at 11 am. The Bihar Congress chief took over the Yatra’s flag from his Bengal counterpart, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
Stating he started his Yatra from Manipur, Gandhi said, “Manipur is burning. People were killed. Their houses were burnt down but our prime minister never went to Manipur till date. This is the situation in our country.”
Earlier, Ramesh told reporters, “Vishwasghat karne mein visheshagya hain. (Nitish Kumar is an expert in backstabbing.) He changes his political colours like a chameleon… The entire drama has been orchestrated by the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. However, it will not affect the INDIA bloc.”
Gandhi’s silence on Nitish, however, did not restrain other Congress leaders such as Jairam Ramesh and Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Singh.(PTI Photo) 
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