Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on February 25 alleged that indigenous, small and cottage-scale industries and artisans are suffering in the country as traders linked to large corporate groups were flooding the markets with Chinese goods.
He was addressing a gathering after his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' arrived in Aligarh from Moradabad via Sambhal. Mr. Gandhi was greeted in Aligarh by a large number of workers of the Congress and supporters of its INDIA bloc ally Samajwadi Party (SP).
Also read | India’s $60 billion man-made textile sector reels from Chinese imports glut
With Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanying him, the Uttar Pradesh Congress posted on 'X' in Hindi, "The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is moving forward with the message of unity, brotherhood and harmony with 'Jannayak' and 'Lok Netri." Sharing a video of the yatra, the party said, "This crowd will send a message to the coming generations that when a dictator was bent on destroying the integrity, sovereignty and the Constitution of the country, we worked to stop him through this yatra." Referring to the famous lock industry and artisans of Aligarh, Mr. Gandhi said the influx of cheap China-made products was sounding the death knell for the local small and cottage units, while big business houses were reaping a rich harvest.
In his address, he said, "The next time I come to this city, I would love to see 'made in Aligarh' electronic goods instead of China-made ones." Mr. Gandhi also said, "The reason behind the rising hatred in the country is injustice. In India, injustice is being done to the poor, farmers, youths and women... We have started 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' against this injustice." "Hatred is spreading in the country, why is it spreading, what is the reason for it? I must have asked this question to thousands of people," he said, with the crowd replying, "Vote bank." Mr. Gandhi went on, "Brothers and sisters, there is no vote bank, do not have this misconception. The people of India, farmers and labourers have told me that the reason for violence and hatred is injustice."
"So we added the word 'Nyay' to the name of the second Bharat Jodo Yatra. Because now, this second yatra is working to unite India. Now, this second yatra is fighting against injustice...," the Congress leader added.
He said the alleged leak of question papers in the police constable recruitment examination was yet another blow to lakhs of unemployed youngsters in this State.
During her address, Priyanka Gandhi said unemployment has become the biggest crisis in "this period of injustice [anyay kaal]".
She also attacked the government, saying its Agniveer recruitment scheme shattered the dreams of youngsters preparing to join the defence forces.
Lakhs of government posts are lying vacant, but recruitment drives have not been announced for years, Ms. Gandhi alleged, adding that when the vacancies are announced, there are question paper leaks.
"There is corruption in recruitment. Today, the poor, labourers, farmers, Dalits, tribals, backwards and middle-class youths are disappointed. They have no hope left for the future,'' she added.
The yatra later moved through the outskirts of the city to head for Agra.
