J&K Didn't Give Me Grenade, Only Love: Rahul Gandhi Culminates 136-Day Bharat Jodo Yatra

Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi addressed a rally to mark the conclusion of Bharat Jodo Yatra. Addressing the gathering, former CMs Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah hit out at the Modi govt.

New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday addressed a gathering in Jammu & Kashmir's Srinagar marking the conclusion of the 136-day Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began in Kanyakumari on September 7 last year.

Rahul Gandhi said that the aim of his foot march was to save the liberal and secular ethos of the country which, according to him, are being attacked by the BJP and the RSS.

"I have not done this (Yatra) for myself or for the Congress but for the people of the country. Our aim is to stand against the ideology that wants to destroy the foundation of this country," he said addressing a gathering at Sher-e-Kashmir stadium amid heavy snowfall, as quoted by news agency PTI.

He recalled the moments when he was informed about the assassination of his grandmother and father, former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and said that the inciters of violence will never understand that pain.

"Those who incite violence – like Modiji, Amit Shahji, the BJP and the RSS – will never understand this pain. The family of an Army man will understand, the family of the CRPF personnel who were killed in Pulwama will understand, Kashmiris will understand that pain when one gets that call," the former Congress President remarked.

"The aim of the yatra is to end the phone calls announcing the deaths of loved ones -- be it a soldier, a CRPF jawan or any Kashmiri," he added.

He challenged the BJP top brass to undertake a yatra like his in Jammu and Kashmir, saying they will never do it as they are scared. "I can guarantee you that no BJP leader can walk like this in Jammu and Kashmir. They will not do it, not because they won't be allowed to but because they are scared," he remarked.

Citing security concerns over his yatra in J&K, Rahul Gandhi said he was advised against walking the Jammu and Kashmir lap on the grounds as he might be attacked. "I thought over it and then decided that I will walk in my home and with my people (in J&K). Why not give them (his enemies) a chance to change the colour of my shirt, let them make it red," he commented

"The people of Kashmir did not give me hand grenades, only their hearts full of love," the Wayanad MP said.

PM Modi, RSS, Want To Keep Poor People Poor: Kharge

According to PTI, Congress chief Kharge told the rally that the ruling BJP is spreading hate in the country. "PM Modi, RSS, and BJP want to keep poor people poor and make the rich richer," he said.

He asserted that Bharat Jodo Yatra was not for winning elections but against hate.

Speaking about the march, Priyanka Gandhi said, "My brother walked for 4-5 months from Kanyakumari. Wherever they went, people came out for them. Why? Because there still remains a passion in this country-for the county, for this land, for its diversity that resides in the hearts of all Indians."

"When my brother was coming to Kashmir, he sent a message to my mother and me. He said he has a unique feeling of going home. He said his family members are waiting for him. They come and hug him with tears in their eyes and their pain & emotions are entering his own heart," she added, addressing the gathering in Srinagar.

Targeting the Centre, Priyanka remarked that politics of division is going on in the country; "The whole country supported the yatra. The politics that is happening in the country cannot benefit the country. The politics that divides cannot benefit the country. Those who walked have shown a ray of hope."

Leaders of DMK, NC, PDP, CPI, RSP, and IUML joined Kharge, Rahul, and Priyanka at the rally to mark the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra

Nation Can See A Ray Of Hope In Rahul Gandhi: Mehbooba Mufti

Former J&K Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah hit out the Centre

"Rahul, you said you've come to Kashmir your home. It's your home. I hope what the Godse ideology snatched from J&K, from this nation will be restored. Gandhi ji said he can see a ray of hope in J&K. Today, the nation can see a ray of hope in Rahul Gandhi," PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said in Srinagar, as quoted by ANI.

"It has been a very successful yatra. The nation needed this. It has proven that there are people who like BJP and there are people who want a new Governmentt, who want harmony and want to live in peace and love with each other - something which the BJP can't give," NC leader Omar Abdullah said.

Omar Abdullah requested Rahul Gandhi to undertake a yatra from west to east and expressed his desire to join him in the same.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hoisted the national flag at the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' camp site. He and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra later joined Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and scores of other party leaders at the Pradesh Congress Committee office on the Maulana Azad Road where a 75-feet flag was hoistedm as a permanent "monument" of the Yatra.