Evening picture: Rahul, Ladakh, and his ‘Mohabbat ka Safar’; BJP tracks diaspora ‘excitement’ as Modi touches down in S Africa

Congress keeps social media updated on all Rahul Gandhi is doing on his extended Ladakh visit, calls it extension of Bharat Jodo Yatra

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacts with locals during his visit to Leh; PM Modi is received by South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile at Waterkloof Air Force Base. (PTI/Ruters)

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Rahul Gandhi is clearly enjoying his time in Ladakh and his party is enjoying him enjoying it. Having initially planned a two-day visit, the Congress leader who rode a motorcycle to Ladakh — like any well-honed, and well-shorn, tourist — has since extended it. The Congress has been keeping its social media followers updated on all Rahul is up to in this half of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, lately in the news for Chinese designs on it.

The party has shared photos of Rahul being mobbed by people, cradling children, visiting the market, blowing kisses, and generally having “fun” — while making it clear that it is not all about the fun. On Tuesday, the Congress said Rahul’s “Ladakh Yatra” was a continuation of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, and was part of his “mohabbat ka safar (journey of love)”. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “On 24th January earlier this year, Rahul Gandhi had met with a delegation from Ladakh during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu… His visit to Ladakh this week is in fulfilment of a commitment made to that delegation, which had wanted him to come and hear the people’s perceptions of the border challenges with China, and also their views on empowerment of local elected bodies.”

❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y43zbrENfv

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 22, 2023

लेह की सड़कों पर लोगों के बीच पहुंचे जननायक @RahulGandhi जी।

यहां उन्होंने स्थानीय लोगों से बात की और उनकी परेशानियां सुनीं।

मोहब्बत का सफर जारी है… pic.twitter.com/SKuoZMgc1E

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 22, 2023

Rahul has also said he wanted to visit Ladakh during his Bharat Jodo Yatra but had to abandon the plan due to “logistical reasons”. In a post on Instagram, he said “Bharat Jodo” was deeply rooted in every Indian’s heart and mind. Posting pictures from the Leh main market at night, Rahul added, “The resonating chant of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ echoing through the streets of Leh serves as a strong example of this unity. No power can suppress this voice, brimming with affection and camaraderie.”

With visuals of the Tricolour, a carved elephant, gun-toting security, a bullet-proof ride and Narendra Modi sprinting up the steps of an aeroplane, all set to a catchy tune, the BJP’s X handle saw off the Prime Minister Tuesday to his BRICS Summit. By evening, another video later captured how “the Indian diaspora is excited to welcome PM Modi”.

PM Shri @narendramodi arrives to a ceremonial welcome at Waterkloof Air Force Base, South Africa. https://t.co/dm2wMY6P1F

— BJP (@BJP4India) August 22, 2023

People of Indian community welcome PM Modi on his arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa. https://t.co/SMOFhIGIUl

— BJP (@BJP4India) August 22, 2023

The BJP otherwise spent the day occupied with the INDIA problem, with a visual on X trying to convey that it was UPA by another name. The Trinamool Congress, which suffered another setback on Monday in the corruption cases against it, posted an INDIA story too, with men and women of clearly different castes and creeds coming together to bring down a giant Modi effigy.

The Samajwadi Party, which has launched a PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpasankhyak) offensive against the NDA, over and above its INDIA participation, focused on the BJP’s “bogus” concerns for Dalits and backwards on its social media Tuesday.

pic.twitter.com/QbeMjYdmJD

— Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) August 22, 2023

The Aam Aadmi Party put up a post underlining that the face of its education push, the jailed Manish Sisodia, had approached the judiciary to ensure that his MLA funds were used for the benefit of his constituency. Despite being imprisoned now for months, Sisodia was still thinking about the people, the AAP said.

हम सबको मनीष सिसोदिया पर गर्व है। जेल में रहते हुए भी उन्हें दिल्ली और अपनी विधान सभा के लोगों की चिंता है। आज उन्होंने कोर्ट से अनुमति माँगी कि क्या वो अपने क्षेत्र के लोगों के विकास के लिये अपने MLA फंड से काम सैंक्शन कर सकते हैं? कोर्ट ने उन्हें अनुमति दे दी।

Proud of u… https://t.co/us6uOkwc3D

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 22, 2023

In another post, the party shared a video of an event from a Delhi stadium Monday where, among other things, the AAP government celebrated MCD employees “receiving salary on the 1st of the month (August 1)” now. The AAP wrested control of the MCD in December 2022, after 15 years of BJP rule in the corporation. However, the civic body’s list of woes is too long for any quick celebrations.