Congress parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi on Monday reached Mizoram ahead of key assembly polls and took out a foot march from Chanmari junction in Aizawl, the state’s capital city.
He reached Aizawal aboard a helicopter from Tripura’s capital city, Agartala.
The Congress parliamentarian covered a distance of around 5 km as he reached Raj Bhavan (official residence of the Governor) and addressed a rally nearby.
Gandhi was greeted by massive crowds as he walked past. He waved at the people, shook hands and even spoke with a few of them. Some people on the way even took selfies with Gandhi.
Traditional dances were also performed during the march.
Rahul Gandhi Meets People During His Foot March in Mizoram
© Photo : Twitter/@INCIndia
While addressing the rally, the Congress parliamentarian said: “I was 16 years old when I came here with my father in 1986. The people of Mizoram are gentle, kind and affectionate. They are a people with a strong sense of community, who respect each other and also with different ideas. It is something to be very proud of. You have a spirit of altruism. These are powerful values in the 21st century.”
Sharing the idea behind his “Bharat Jodo Yatra” (Unite India March), he said that it was to promote mutual respect, tolerance, learn from others' ideas, languages, and religions, and embracing love as a unifying force.
“However, this is the idea that the BJP is currently challenging as they target different communities, religions, languages, and cultures, promoting violence, arrogance, and a lack of understanding. This stance is entirely contrary to the idea of India that we hold dear—one that values respect for all and the protection of everybody,” he added.
Asking the people of Mizoram to vote for his party, Gandhi said: “Congress treats everybody with respect and provides not empty words but a vision for the state of Mizoram. If there is one thing I would like to leave you with, it is that we will defend your culture, religion, and tradition; they are our most valuable assets.”
“Congress always has a good record for governance and development. Be it the social safety infrastructure in Karnataka, health insurance cover in Rajasthan, or the welfare of farmers and MSMEs in Chhattisgarh, our leadership in the states works with a vision,” he added.