A massive protest gathering organized by Indian opposition party Congress at Ramlila Maidaan in New Delhi urged the government to end price rise, hatred and anger in the country. Former President of Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi told thousands of party supporters that hatred and anger has been increasing in the country ever since the BJP government came to power. Speaking at Ramlila Maidan Sunday, Congress leader Gandhi said the party along with other opposition parties "together we will defeat the ideology of the BJP and the RSS". Gandhi said that since the BJP came to power, anger and hatred have increased. He added that Narendra Modi is still the prime minister thanks to the media and two businessmen. Hitting back at the Congress, Sambit Patra termed Congress' 'Halla Bol' rally as Parivar Bachao rally. "If I tell you truly it was a Parivar Bachao rally to save themselves," he said. Targeting the Gandhis, he said,"...You cannot even share Congress with the Congressmen today. Only two people, as if playing (the game) musical chair, keep becoming president. No third person can become the president," he said. As reports emerged that Congress workers were detained during a march to protest the rise in prices of essential commodities, Delhi police denied it and said no Congress worker has been detained so far. Earlier in the day, former Minister Jairam Ramesh told news agency ANI that the rally has nothing to do with the elections and is a befitting message to the insensitive central government as the people of the country remain troubled by inflation and unemployment. Meanwhile, Delhi police said that adequate security arrangements have been made in and around the Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi in view of the Congress' protest. The Delhi Police has also issued traffic advisory on its official Twitter handle, alerting the commuters about road closures on Sunday. Gandhi said, "There is pressure on institutions such as media, judiciary, Election Commission, and the government is attacking all of them." He noted that hatred is rising in the country as there is an increasing fear of inflation and unemployment. Gandhi claimed that two industrialists namely Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani are benefitting from the hatred and fear and the ruling party is working for their benefit. "Be it airport, port, roads everything is being taken over by these two people," he said. He added, Modi's ideology dictates that this two people should benefit while "our ideology says everyone should benefit from the country's progress." The opposition leader also alleged that the policies of Modi government has weakened the country. "Narendra Modi is taking the country backwards, he is spreading hatred. Pakistan and China are benefitting from this. PM Modi has weakened India in the last eight years," he said. He also accused the government of stifling the voices of opposition saying the government has resisted every attempt to bring into discussion the plight of people due to price rise and unemployment. Common people are in great difficulty. Opposition is not allowed to raise these issues in parliament, be it tensions with China, inflation, or unemployment," he said. The rally witnessed massive participation as the government authorities put in place a strong security arrangement. Several senior Congress leaders also addressed the audience. Sunday's rally is part of a nationwide drive of the opposition party to bring the impact of Modi government's policies on common people. The Congress party has planed to organize a massive campaign against the government policies starting from Kanyakumari, in southern most part of India to Kashmir in the northern most part of the country starting Sept. 7 and covering around 3,500 kilometers. Gandhi is expected to interact with common people across the country highlighting the issues of price rise and unemployment in what is termed as the biggest ever mass contact program of the party. "With this yatra, we intend to meet the common people and tell them about the lies spread by the government. This country does not belong to two people, but to farmers, laborers, and unemployed youth as well," Gandhi said. — Agencies
