Boost to INDIA bloc, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joins Rahul Gandhi’s yatra

Neeraj Mohan

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 25

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s participation in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Agra has injected fresh vigour into the INDIA bloc, which had been grappling with desertions and challenges in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

Govt is scared of farmers

Today farmers are standing against the government and the government is scared of their power. The INDIA coalition government will give respect to farmers. Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief

With both the SP and the Congress recently announcing seat-sharing arrangements for Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh’s support for the yatra has become a significant rallying point for the INDIA bloc partners, especially in Jat and Muslim-dominated western Uttar Pradesh, after the recent desertion of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary.

Akhilesh emphasised the need for unity and love in the country, contrasting it with the politics of hatred. “I welcome all workers of both parties and Congress leaders to the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,” he said. He accused the BJP of neglecting the concerns of farmers and youth. “BJP hatao, desh bachao (remove BJP, save the country). Today, farmers are standing against the government and the government is scared of their power. Once the BJP is removed, the INDIA coalition government will give respect to farmers,” he added.

Accompanied by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi’s yatra received a warm welcome from SP and Congress workers. The leaders urged the people to unite under the INDIA alliance and defeat the ruling BJP.

“The greatest fight right now for the INDIA bloc is against the hatred and disharmony being spread by the BJP,” Rahul Gandhi asserted. He stressed that despite constituting about 90 per cent of the population, the backward sections, including Dalits, minorities and adivasis, face marginalisation and underrepresentation in various sectors. “If you are poor, then you will face injustice in this country; the reason for hatred is injustice, so we have added the word justice to our journey,” he added.

Referring to the farmers’ agitation, Rahul reiterated the INDIA bloc’s promise to provide legal status to Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. He criticised the Modi government for not granting legal status to MSP and assured that they would prioritise the issue once in power. Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra welcomed Akhilesh Yadav and other SP leaders to the Yatra.