India: after 114 days, the march of the Indian National Congress party arouses enthusiasm
The opposition Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi (in the center, with the white t-shirt), marches alongside supporters, in New Delhi, India, December 24, 2022. © Bhumika Saraswati / AP
Text by: Côme Bastin Follow
2 mins
It has been 114 days since the Indian National Congress party launched a march to unite the country.
In decline, the party was betting its future on this mobilization, but it managed to attract the attention of the media and influential personalities.
On Wednesday, December 28, three former leaders of Kashmir announced that they would walk alongside Congress figure Rahul Gandhi.
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From our correspondent in Bangalore
,
It is a march that has been going
on since September 7th
.
Miles wear out shoes, but can revitalize parties.
The march of the Indian National Congress (center-left Indian party), mocked when it left Kanyakumari, did not mark time after 3,000 km.
During the Christmas weekend in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi, initiator of the march, shared his enthusiasm in front of the crowd.
“
Every day, we are told about Hindus against Muslims.
I was afraid that hatred would plague our country.
But while walking from the South, I met various Indians, united, generous
, ”he rejoices.
Arrival in January
The march will end in January in Kashmir.
The reception promises to be favorable in this Muslim-majority state, where the Hindu nationalists of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian right-wing nationalist party) in power have locked freedoms.
Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, former and influential leaders, will walk there with Rahul Gandhi, described as "
guardian of secular values of India
".
Indeed, for several weeks, celebrities have been inviting themselves into the crowd, such as the Tamil actor Kamal Haasan, the economist Raghuram Rajan, or the committed comedian Kunal Kamra…
Despite everything, the march also has its detractors, starting with the BJP, which is firing red bullets at Rahul Gandhi, mocking Rahul Gandhi's white t-shirt or recently accusing him of spreading Covid-19.
Also, some opposition parties avoid joining the march to mark their independence.
It is still difficult to anticipate the electoral impact of the operation for the oldest party in India.
"
The march has done miracles, it remains to translate them into the ballot box
", summarizes MP Shashi Tharoor.
In any case, Congress has already thwarted the prognosis of a funeral march.
► Also to listen: In India, the Congress party continues its great march to "bring India together"
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