Congress leader Rahul Gandhi address from his custom made bus during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Kohima on January 16. Photo by Caisii Mao
Morung Express news
Kohima | January 16
As the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY) or the India Justice and Unity March entered its third day in Nagaland capital Kohima on January 16, the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hilighted the unfulfilled assurance by the Central Government regarding the Naga political solution, among other issues.
During public addresses and a press conference in Kohima on Tuesday, he maintained that the central government has failed in its assurance to the people of Nagaland regarding the Naga Political solution, leading to confusion and resentment among the Nagas in general.
"Nagaland itself has been given a commitment by the BJP government, 9 years ago which is being broken and incomplete," he said.
Discussing the Naga Political issue, he mentioned that he has engaged in conversations with certain Naga leaders, who express bewilderment about the lack of progress in this matter.
"I've been speaking to Naga leaders, and they are perplexed as to why no progress has been made. We're not even clear about what the PM envisions in terms of a solution," Gandhi said, adding that the Framework Agreement is a superficial document that says it will work “towards peace and sovereignty but it is not clear as to what he exactly means."
Clearly, there is a problem that will require conversation, listening to each other, and working on implementing a solution, and that is lacking as far as the PM (Narendra Modi) is concerned, he added.
The Prime Minister promises things without thinking them through, Gandhi maintained adding, “Many promises have been made regarding education employment and people are disturbed that the Prime Minister's credibility is on the line."
Came to listen to people of Nagaland
The Congress MP assured that the party through its yatra has come here to listen to the people of Nagaland.
"I spent last evening talking to delegations to get a sense of how they're feeling, what the betrayal is, and what the anxiety is. Listening is the first step to understanding and resolving unfairness," he noted, further pointing out his concern on this issue as most people had raised the imbroglio to him.
Adding that the idea behind this yatra is to fight for social, economic & political justice, he asserted that "it doesn't matter if you're a small state; you should feel equal to all other people in the country."
Gandhi further added that the idea of yatra is to "give justice to the people, to make politics, society, and the economic structure more equal and accessible to everyone."
Alternative to divisive vision
The Congress leader also spoke about the 2nd edition of the Yatra after iterating that the first leg had been impactful and successful in bringing the people of the country together. He also said that it was done by foot from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
"It transformed the political narrative, providing an alternative to the divisive narrative of the BJP," he maintained.
He further asserted that the BJNY is an ideological yatra and designed to place certain ideas on the table firmly in front of the people of India.
"These ideas offer an alternative vision to the divisive vision of the BJP," he said.
This time, we've chosen Manipur due to the tragic events, loss of life & violence. It's disheartening that the Prime Minister has not visited the state, which is a sad and shameful affair, he added.
Apart from these, Gandhi said, the yatra aims to raise state’s specific issues.
In Viswema Village where the Nagaland leg of the yatra kicked off earlier this morning, villagers in their traditional attires greeted and interacted with the Congress leader and presented him traditional food items and gifts and performed traditional songs.
The Viswema people also handed over a letter to Gandhi highlighting the village's association and encounters with his kins from the time of India's freedom struggle and Naga political issue.
After reaching Kohima War Cemetery later by bus, he also paid homage to World War II martyrs.
Gandhi also made an impromptu visit to the Indira Gandhi Sports Stadium in Kohima, which is currently hosting the week-long 66th Kohima Village Sports Association Meet 2024, further relaying the message of justice to the gathering.
Afterward, the yatra continued to Tseminyu before advancing to Wokha district, where it halted for the night at Chukitong town.
