Gandhinagar: The ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, is set to enter Gujarat at Jhalod in Dahod district on March 7. As the former Congress president is coming to Gujarat ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it is timely to recall several instances in the past where Gandhi made remarks mentioning Gujarat in bad taste.

Assam February 2021

In fact Raul started Gujarat Congress campaign from Assam last year. You remember? pic.twitter.com/zHN8kzkO7l

— Japan K Pathak (@JapanPathak) November 21, 2022

In February 2021, Rahul Gandhi, while addressing the Congress party’s public meeting in Assam targeted Gujarat traders and tried to pit Assam tea-garden workers against Gujarati businessmen.

Rahul tried to create an impression as if traders from Gujarat are into exploitation of workers.

Rahul mentioned ‘Gujarat’ thrice in his speech in bad taste and disrespectful manner.

At the Assam rally today, Rahul said, that while a tea worker gets (just) Rs. 167, Gujarat businessmen get (an entire) tea garden. He repeated this line to reemphasize the word ‘Gujarat’, and gave a strange logic that this is the reason why Assam is being divided. ‘Because they know that if they want to steal from Assam, then Assam has to be divided. Because if Assam is not divided, then no power can steal from Assam,’ he said. He then said the Congress party(if elected to power) will give daily Rs. 365 to a tea worker. Rahul again mentioned Gujarat. He said, ‘You would ask, oh brother, if you give Rs. 200 daily, from where are you going to bring it, and my simple reply will be that (we will bring it) from Gujarat businessmen.’ Rahul then said, ‘Woh (Gujarat businessman) aapse chhin raha hai (Gujarat businessman is snatching it from you).’

Rahul’s such remarks were strongly protested by Gujarat BJP and then Chief Minister.

Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil had tweeted: Rahul Gandhi’s shameful words for Gujaratis show his sick mindset and hate for Gujarat. It is not the first time Congress has insulted Gujarat. In the coming days, the people of Gujarat will comprehensively defeat Congress in the upcoming polls.  Gujarat BJP had also organized dharna across the State protesting the same.

Chennai February 2022

Today the people of J&K don’t rule themselves but bureaucrats from UP&Gujarat rule them. In Punjab, they have unilaterally taken away 100 kms of land from Punjab&gave it to BSF.Our vision is unity in diversity while theirs is unity through conformity: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/3J6LVhOPKr

— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2022

While addressing an event in Tamil Nadu in February 2022, the Wayanad MP  said, “Today the people of Jammu and Kashmir don’t rule themselves but bureaucrats from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat rule them.”

This was apparent messaging to pit those in Jammu & Kashmir against Gujarat and UP. The messaging was like, Gujarat and UP enjoying hegemony over Jammu & Kashmir.

Nanded November 2022

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Your projects are going to Gujarat as Airbus project went from Maharashtra because elections are there in Gujarat. Even the Foxconn project went. Apart from money, jobs & future of state’s youth are also being snatched: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Nanded pic.twitter.com/1NDyEkEyNZ

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2022

In November 2022, during the ‘Bharat Jodo’ Yatra, in Nanded, Maharashtra, Rahul said, “Your projects are going to Gujarat. As the airplane takes off from the runway similarly, the Airbus project flew away from Maharashtra… because elections are there in Gujarat. Even the mobile phone-related project, the Foxconn project, went to Gujarat. Apart from money, jobs and the future of the state’s youth are also being snatched.”

This was Rahul’s attempt to generate the feelings against Gujarat and Gujarati among the people of Maharashtra.  Viciousness and division agendas apart, such a remark also showcased Rahul’s lack of political common sense, as the campaign for Gujarat assembly elections was at its peak when he said this in neighboring state.

Madhya Pradesh November 2022

Congress party describes Medha Patkar as one who is involved in social welfare. pic.twitter.com/gqmNFKlj5C

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) November 18, 2022

In November 2022 NGO operator Medha Patkar who spearheaded the foreign-funded campaign against Gujarat’s lifeline Sardar Sarovar Project, blocked the fund for the dam and stalled the progress of crucial Narmada Yojana for years, joined ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Congress party’s ‘Bharat Jodo’ twitter handle described her as one involved in social welfare. Soon after that when Rahul Gandhi came to Gujarat for campaign, in his address in the tribal area he tried to pit tribals of Gujarat against the rest of Gujarat. Rahul told tribals that their water was being taken away (by rest of Gujarat/Saurashtra).

DeshGujarat