Rahul Gandhi is now ready to some extent to compete with Modi

The grand finale of Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra at Lal Chowk in Srinagar has certainly become a means of reviving the Congress, Rahul Gandhi’s image has emerged in a completely new way and a positive politics has been initiated. Is. Anyway, there has been a unique history of padyatras in the soil of India. Be it the historic journey of Maryada Purushottam Shriram to Lanka for the victory of truth over untruth, or the Dandi march of 1930, which shook the entire British Empire with a handful of salt, Baba Amte’s Bharat Jodo Yatra or national integrity, communal harmony and international brotherhood. The importance of the Ekta Yatra dedicated to spirit cannot be denied. In Indian life, traveling on foot has been accepted as a powerful medium of public relations. These walking tours give a direct interview with the social, cultural and political reality. By enlightening the public consciousness, it turns it according to the era. During his lifetime, Lord Mahavir had sown the seeds of spirituality in the people there by traveling in many states. There is a long history of pilgrimages of Jain sages. They go on padayatra almost for eight months in a year, Jain Acharya Shri Mahashraman also did non-violence tour of entire India including three neighboring countries. In the series of these visits, Rahul Gandhi’s visit for political purposes has carved a new niche. Even though Rahul’s visit became controversial on many fronts, he was criticized. But in spite of all these situations, Rahul Gandhi did that feat on the political stage, which was not expected by his opponents, let alone his own.

Through this Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi has created a history, by completing the 147-day Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Rahul has been able to give a message to his political opponents as well as to his loved ones. The message is that slowly but surely he has tried to change his image of an immature politician. This change has made him stand in the category of serious, experienced and skilled leaders in political skills. At the conclusion of the Yatra on the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi i.e. Martyr’s Day, a new debate has been started by saying some very strange and political things. After hoisting the national flag, the questions raised regarding law and order in Jammu and Kashmir seemed ridiculous because if the conditions were not good, could they have hoisted the tricolor there? The situation of security and order has become good, only then his journey could be completed smoothly. For this, they should express gratitude to the government and not criticize it. He told this journey neither for himself nor for the Congress party. Rather said that this journey was for the country. In the name of the country and the people of the country, such worlds have been happening by the politicians. It is well known that such a yatra or such a big initiative was needed to infuse life, hope and enthusiasm in the ever-decreasing image and status of the Congress, the yatra has been successful in fulfilling that objective and achieving the goal. Whoever advised such a trip must have been an experienced person in politics.

After taking the bold decision to remove Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, many such steps were taken, which suppressed the adventurism of terrorists and separatists. Even though they could not appreciate the efforts of BJP in maintaining peace and tranquility in the Valley due to political reasons, it was not appropriate to raise questions like security and order on such an occasion. It was only because of the changed atmosphere in the Valley that the Congress could organize the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir. If the situation had not been better, then probably the Bharat Jodo Yatra could have been held there only symbolically. Rahul Gandhi has brought alive the history of Congress’s contribution to nation-building by going to cities, villages, fields and rural areas and doing mass and personal public relations. He has also attacked Narendra Modi and the BJP government with many effective symbols and statements. It cannot be denied that the Congress, which is going through its worst phase so far, needs a charismatic leader today, who can compete with a strong leader like Modi and a strong party like BJP. Can prove himself capable of leading the country. Due to the pappu image of Rahul Gandhi, this was not visible far and wide, but now Rahul has emerged as a challenger to Modi, even if not completely, but partially. This should be seen as an auspicious event for democracy. Only the future will tell how much the party and Rahul himself will benefit from this visit of Rahul. In Srinagar and other parts of the country also, through this yatra, there were extensive efforts for the unity of the opposition parties, but they could not get the expected success. Due to inclement weather in Srinagar, no major leader of the opposition could reach.

Through the Bharat Jodo Yatra, it was effectively revealed that Rahul Gandhi is the supreme leader of the Congress. There is no doubt that this yatra has been taken out to pacify the flame of rebellion within the party. With his new image and energy, Rahul now takes what steps to unite the opposition, how much he is able to calm the internal discord in the party, how many challenges he is able to give to the BJP like undertaking such a yatra, what are the parties standing against the BJP? Will be able to unite under the leadership of, it will be interesting to see. Rahul has to refrain from his contradictory statements. Till now they have not been able to tell the purpose of the yatra in a very strong form. To say, connect India Yatra was done to remove the atmosphere of hatred in the country, but when this Yatra came to Delhi, Rahul Gandhi himself said that he did not see hatred anywhere in his journey of about 2800 kms. Does it not mean that baseless noises were being made to spread hatred in the country? The melody of unrest and chaos is being sung in the valley. In this way, Rahul Gandhi himself was seen singing praises of BJP’s achievements on many fronts. Whether it is the absence of hatred in the country or the establishment of peace system in Kashmir.

Of course, every walk has political implications. Mahatma Gandhi started the Dandi March at a time when there was a great need to unite the country for freedom and to revive the Congress. At the same time, Chandrashekhar was also upset with the internal political situation of the party. LK Advani traveled to strengthen Hindutva. Those visits contributed to changing the mood of the country and even today those visits are remembered. Will Rahul Gandhi’s visit also be remembered? Will the Congress party at least emerge from its transition period? Will there be any light on the question of leadership as well? Will it be possible to reinvigorate the ever-decreasing party? The visit has played a good role in overcoming these more complex situations, but its effect and impact remain to be seen. A major goal is also to unite the opposition under the leadership of the Congress. But there is a big question whether through this yatra any role has been prepared to attract the people of the country and create a discussion to solve their problems? Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, an ambitious political project, has ensured his acceptability as a leader.

-Lalit Garg

(The author is a senior journalist and columnist)