'Lead From Front To Combat Injustice': Rahul's Clarion Call To Bengal Voters During Nyay Yatra

Rahul's remarks come at a time when Opposition I.N.D.I.A faced a jolt in neighbouring Bihar after its former ally JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar dumped the grand alliance and switched allegiance to BJP-led NDA.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Siliguri

New Delhi: Amid differences in Opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A over seat-sharing with TMC in Bengal after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to contest all Lok Sabha seats alone, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday called on Bengal to spearhead the battle against prevailing injustices in the nation.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception in West Bengal, Gandhi said, "The people of West Bengal have shown a lot of love. Bengal holds a special place. Bengal led the ideological fight during the Independence struggle. Rabindranath Tagore, Subhash Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda had worked to show the path to the country. I am confident that all of you will work to reunite this country.

Rahul also asserted that Bengal and Bengalis must "lead from the front to combat injustice, foster unity, and curb hatred in the present circumstances." "If you don't rise to the occasion, people will never forgive you. It is not about any single individual; it is about Bengal showing the way and leading in this fight", PTI quoted Gandhi as saying.

Rahul's remarks come at a time when Opposition I.N.D.I.A faced a jolt in neighbouring Bihar after its former ally JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar dumped the grand alliance and switched allegiance to BJP-led NDA.

Although Gandhi refrained from directly naming any political entity, both the TMC and other political parties reacted to his remarks.

In response of Rahul's statement, TMC spokesperson Santanu Sen, as quoted by PTI said, "Yes, he (Rahul) is correct that Bengal has historically been at the forefront of pivotal movements, notably against British rule. Mamata Banerjee halted the BJP's momentum in the 2021 assembly polls and played a significant role in forming the opposition coalition. However, it was the Bengal Congress leadership that compromised with the saffron camp in the state." 

BJP state spokesperson criticised Gandhi's remarks saying, "It is astonishing how Rahul Gandhi can make such remarks that hint at sub-nationalism. This is unexpected from a leader of a national party".

Addressing a gathering in Siliguri, Gandhi underscored the essence of the yatra, stating, "The word 'Nyay' (justice) has been attached to the yatra because injustice prevails across the country".