India: the Congress party continues its great march to "bring India together"

Audio 01:30

The Congress party stops in a village where Gandhi started a textile factory.

© Côme Bastin / RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

In India, the great figures of the Congress party have been marching since September 7, from the south to the north of the country.

The Independence Party has long dominated national political life, but is seeing its influence shrink in the face of the ruling BJP.

With this crossing of nearly 4,000 kilometers, the Congress hopes to reconnect with the Indians.

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With our special correspondent in the Mysore region, in Karnataka,

This Sunday October 2 marks the celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

The Congress party stopped in Badanavalu, a symbol village, where Gandhi launched in 1927 a textile factory for the lowest castes.

Pawan Khera, Communications Manager:

Waves of disinformation campaigns against Congress ended up convincing part of society.

We must fight back.

Speak loud and clear about our history, our values.

The Congress fights for the essence of India: unity in diversity.

The BJP, on the contrary, seeks to impose uniformity in the country – uniformity of language, ideology, religion or even food!

At 3 p.m., the march heads towards the city of Mysore, led by Rahul Gandhi, whom many villagers have come to see.

Sangeeta Shah is not a party member, but wants to participate.

I come from Bombay, because I support the slogan of the march which is to unite India.

It's time for those who live comfortably like me to care about people who have no electricity and go to sleep hungry.

At 46, Ashok Kumar came to greet his party, but seems resigned to the upcoming elections.

The BJP controls everything: the Supreme Court, the Electoral Commission, the Hindu extremist groups that distill the poison of division between communities.

The march should reach Kashmir within 120 days.

Four months, which look like a last chance for the Congress party.

►Read also: In India, a large Muslim organization banned by the authorities

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