Congress will defeat 'oppressive' BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, says Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi:

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday led his party’s nationwide daylong fast against caste violence, communalism and the non-functioning of Parliament, for which it blames the ruling BJP, and to promote peace and harmony.

Gandhi sat for several hours at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat in Delhi where several other senior Congress leaders, including Kamal Nath, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sheila Dikshit, Ashok Gehlot joined him.

Communal harmony & brotherhood is under threat in Modi govt, they want to divide the society, hence it is the duty of Congress party to fight against such powers & this is what we have come together for,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

The fast for peace was observed across the country by Congress workers in all state and district headquarters.

However, the fast mired in controversies after Congress leaders, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar reached at Rajghat. Both Tytler and Kumar are accused of inciting violence during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

When asked about the row over Kumar and Tytler, Surjewala said, “Some conspirators in the BJP try to find meaning in everything small or the big thing.”

Highlights

# 04:45 PM: The entire country knows that PM Modi is anti-Dalit, it is not a secret...The BJP follows ideology of oppressing Dalits, tribals, minorities. We will stand against and defeat it in 2019 general polls: Rahul

# 04:30 PM: Rahul Gandhi ends fast, says PM Modi anti-Dalit, BJP's ideology oppressive.

#02:30 PM: Delhi BJP leader Harish Khurana claims Congress leaders were earlier today seen eating at a restaurant in Delhi before sitting on a protest and observing fast at Rajghat over atrocities on Dalits.

Delhi BJP leader Harish Khurana claims Congress leaders were earlier today seen eating at restaurant in Delhi before sitting on a protest and observing fast at Rajghat over atrocities on Dalits. (In pic, Congress leader AS Lovely) pic.twitter.com/OWsIWmwPKP

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2018

# 01:50 PM: Congress President Rahul Gandhi with senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sheila Dikshit, Ashok Gehlot and Ajay Maken at Rajghat, where the Congress party is staging a protest and hunger strike over atrocities on Dalits.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi with senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sheila Dikshit, Ashok Gehlot and Ajay Maken at Rajghat, where the Congress party is staging a protest and hunger strike over atrocities on Dalits. pic.twitter.com/ERxkUzvBIk

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2018

#01:45 PM: BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya takes a swipe at Rahul Gandhi for a day-long "fast that starts after lunch".

राहुल जी अगर लंच हो गया हो तो, उपवास पर बैठ जाओ... I would love to know which leader says he will embark on a fast and does not reach the venue till 12:45! True to his style, @rahulgandhi obviously woke up late. #RahulOnAFarce

— Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) April 9, 2018

#01:28 PM: Meanwhile, BJP has mocked the Congress party' fast against Dalit atrocities. The ruling party has also questioned Jagdish Tytler's presence.  

क्या राहुल जी ने तब उपवास रखा था जब 1984 के दंगों में जगदीश टाइटलर और सज्जन कुमार सिखों की निर्मम हत्या करवा रहें थे : डॉ @sambitswaraj

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 9, 2018

जगदीश टाइटलर और सज्जन कुमार को जिस प्रकार से राजघाट को आज छोड़कर जाना पड़ा, इससे आज सिद्ध हो गया है की काग्रेस पार्टी कहीं ना कहीं अपना गुनाह स्वीकार करती है : डॉ @sambitswaraj pic.twitter.com/EG7leylUoH

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 9, 2018

#01:15 PM: Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrives at Rajghat, where the Congress party is staging a protest and hunger strike over atrocities on Dalits.

Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrives at Rajghat, where the Congress party is staging a protest and hunger strike over atrocities on Dalits. pic.twitter.com/2rQQqzN58Y

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2018

#12:45 PM: After Bihar, Uttar Pradesh Congress party's Punjab and West Bengal units have also joined the fast. 

#12:30 PM: Here are some glimpses of Congress party units across the country.

Here are some glimpses of Congress party units across the country that are observing a day-long fast today to protest the rising atrocities against Dalits, adivasis, & minorities under the Modi Govt. #CongressForPeaceAndHarmony pic.twitter.com/XvPVxI3irD

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 9, 2018

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