Unemployment, hunger, inflation, hatred, fear on the rise, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday and alleged that due to the government's policies and RSS-BJP politics, unemployment, inflation, hunger, hatred and fear "are on the rise" in the country.

Gandhi said since the opposition is not allowed to speak up in Parliament and since all institutions are "under the attack of the government", the Congress will now reach out to the people directly and communicate with them through the upcoming Bharat Jodo Yatra. He asserted that opposition parties will come together to defeat the RSS and BJP.

Gandhi said, "So when we say hatred is increasing, we can also say fear is increasing. Fear of unemployment, fear of price rise... I want to ask you whether price rise, hatred strengthens the country?... Modi and BJP are weakening the country."

He said the weakening of India would only benefit China and Pakistan. At the Ramlila Maidan venue in Delhi, Congress workers displayed a huge banner, calling for Gandhi's return as the party president.

Maintaining that the country is facing "a clash of ideology", Gandhi said, "The Congress party unites the country. We erase hatred and when hatred is erased, the country moves faster. This we have done for years. I want to tell Congress workers that you can save the country. Congress ideology can bring the country on the path of progress."

He said Bharat Jodo Yatra would establish a direct connection with the people. "We want to talk in Parliament on China's attack, unemployment, price rise, but we are stopped. The institutions, whether it is the media, the judiciary or the Election Commission, are all under pressure so that way has also been stopped. So the only way we have is to go to people. So Congress will start the Bharat Jodo Yatra. I want to thank you for coming so far... All the opposition parties will come together to defeat BJP and RSS."

Gandhi reeled out various social sector schemes the erstwhile UPA regimes had rolled out for the people and he also quoted data from the UPA period to the present to amplify how fuel prices have skyrocketed under the Modi regime. All leaders who spoke before Gandhi targeted the Modi government's policies and praised Gandhi's "leadership" in leading the fight back by raising the voices of people.

He reiterated his charge that the Modi government's policies were helping only a few industrialists.

While change-seekers BS Hooda and Mukul Wasnik addressed the rally, Anand Sharma was conspicuous by his absence at the event.