No action against ‘real culprits’ of bridge crash as they are linked to BJP: Rahul

Rahul Gandhi said he is feeling sad the Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress is not passing through Gujarat, where Assembly polls will be held on December 1 and 5.

Congress leaders in Rajkot observe a two-minute silence to pay tribute to the victims of Morbi tragedy. (Express Photo)

Accusing the BJP government of not taking action against those responsible for the Morbi bridge collapse as they had “good relation with the ruling party”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Monday said he was sad that his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) is not passing through poll-bound Gujarat.

NDA government was destroying small and medium businesses to clear way for dominance of a few big industrialists.

Addressing a public meeting in Rajkot as part of Congress’s campaign for the Gujarat Assembly elections, Rahul began his speech by giving details of BJY from Kanykumari that began on

September 8. He said that in 70 days, the Yatra has covered around 2,000 kilometres and 1,500 km are more to be covered over the next 50 to 55 days before it culminates in Srinagar.

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“Everywhere, lakhs of people are joining and showering their love and affection… It flows like a river. Everyday, people gather at 5.30 am and we set out at 6 am. The Yatra halts at 7.30 or 8 in the evening. It is strange that I don’t feel any tiredness because people’s energy is helping us. I am sad that this Yatra is not passing through Gujarat,” Rahul said.

However, the Congress leader offered no reason as to why his Yatra is skirting Gujarat even as he said people of Gujarat had inspired to embark on the yatra. “The Bharat Jodo (Yatra) which we have launched is inspired by you, Gujarat, by Mahatma Gandhi. We are not doing a new thing. The path was shown to us by Gujarat, by Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. After learning from you, we are doing this tapscharya (endeavour),” he said.

A few days ago, senor Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said that BJY was not passing through Gujarat as it would have distracted party leaders in Gujarat in the midst of elections. Gujarat is to vote in two phases on December 1 and December 5. Saurashtra will vote under phase 1.

The BJY’s Maharashtra leg got over on Sunday and Rahul has taken a two-day break from the Yatra to campaign in Gujarat.

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The Congress leader, who is Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala, came down heavily on the ruling BJP over the Jhulto Pul suspension bridge collapse in Morbi, and said, “Question arises today as to why no action is being taken against those who did this? No FIR? Will nothing happen to them just because they have good relation with the BJP? They arrested guards and jailed them. But no action against those who are really responsible?”

He also alleged that demonetisation of 2016, introduction of “wrong” GST in 2017 and lockdowns were policies to destroy the poor.

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