‘India’s 140 crore population and 100 richest people…’: Rahul Gandhi in Panipat

Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Congress party’s Rahul Gandhi, started its journey from Panipat on Friday morning, the first day of the second leg of Haryana. The pilgrimage re-entered Haryana from Uttar Pradesh on Thursday evening. After a night halt, the pilgrimage started from Kurar in Panipat.

Addressing a public rally, Gandhi said that the yatra that started from Kanyakumari had completed 112 days and “we are being given such a welcome in Panipat”.

“I have a question in my mind…even the population of the country is 140 crores…and 50 percent of the total wealth of the country is held by 100 rich people…are you justified in this? This is the reality of Narendra Modi’s India,” Gandhi said targeting the central government.

“If you look at the profits of all the corporates in India, 90 percent of the profits are in the hands of only 20 corporates and half the wealth of this country is in the hands of 100 people. This is the reality of Narendra Modi’s India,” he added.

Gandhi alleged that this government has created two Indias – one India where poor and simple people live and another India where 200-300 people with all the wealth live.
“You have nothing. There is only this Panipat air that you cannot breathe… it is cancer,” he added.

Leaders from social science and technology fields marched with Gandhi when the yatra resumed.

“Social science and technology leaders march with Rahul Gandhi on Bharat Jodo Yatra,” the Congress said on Twitter.

“Professor Sheila Sen Jasanoff (Holberg Prize 2022), Prof JH Jasanoff and Dr Mohammad Arif (Professor of History, Varanasi) joined the fight against reactionary ideology,” it said.

Gandhi was seen holding the hand of a small child who was walking with him.

Several senior Congress leaders from Haryana including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Deepender Singh Hooda, Karan Singh Dalal, Uday Pan and Kuldeep Sharma joined Gandhi on the pilgrimage.
Gandhi returned to Delhi on Thursday night after returning to visit his ailing mother, resuming the pilgrimage was slightly delayed.

Gandhi’s mother and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on Wednesday due to a viral respiratory infection.

Congress leaders and activists gave a rousing welcome to the pilgrims who re-entered Haryana on Thursday evening.

As the march passed through various areas on Friday, the general public was seen participating in the rally. Some, including women and children, stood on the rooftops and waved as the pilgrims went.

Gandhi was again seen in his white shirt, which has become a hot topic of discussion in many circles.
In the afternoon, Gandhi, party president Mallikarjuna Kharge and other senior leaders addressed a public meeting at Panipat.