1. Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP and BJD of forming a “partnership” in Odisha.
2. He asserts that the Congress opposes this alliance to protect the interests of Odisha’s people.
3. Gandhi recommences his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Rourkela, emphasizing the need to connect with the people.
Rourkela, Feb 07: Rahul Gandhi, on February 7, made allegations against the BJP and BJD, stating that they have formed a “partnership” in Odisha.
He claimed that the Congress has been opposing this alliance to safeguard the interests of the people of the state. Gandhi resumed his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Rourkela, Odisha’s steel city.
During a brief speech, Gandhi asserted, “As you know, Naveen Patnaik and Narendra Modi run a partnership government in Odisha. They both have joined hands and work in tandem. I find in Parliament that BJD supports the BJP. The BJD people also disturb us at the instance of BJP.” He emphasized that it is the Congress party alone that has been standing against the BJD-BJP alliance for the welfare of Odisha’s people.
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Gandhi expressed his mission in Odisha as opening a “shop of love in the market of hatred” (‘Nafrat ki bazaar me mohabbat ki dukan khulne aaya hu’). He criticized the BJD government in Odisha, highlighting that around 30 lakh people from the state have migrated as laborers to other states for livelihood, attributing this to the state government’s failure to work for them. He accused “30 crorepati from outside Odisha” of exploiting the state’s resources.
The Congress leader pointed out the neglect of tribals and Dalits in the state by the government. Gandhi pledged to spend 6 to 7 hours listening to the concerns of the people and speaking for only 15 minutes.
He identified unemployment as a significant issue in Odisha due to the inadequate functioning of industries.
Gandhi commenced his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Rourkela by offering prayers at the Vedvyas Shiv temple and then embarked on a 3.4-kilometer padayatra from Uditnagar to Panposh Chhak.
Accompanied by AICC Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar and OPCC President Sarat Patnaik, he interacted with the locals.
His itinerary included a lunch break at Bisra Munda Ground at Ranibandh, followed by gatherings at Kutra and Baragaon.
Later in the day, he was scheduled to address a rally at Rajgangpur and undertake another 1-kilometer padayatra in Sundargarh town. Gandhi’s day was to conclude with another public meeting at Amlipali Ground in Jharsuguda.
