Rahul Gandhi"s Contradictory Views on Yatra in Washington DC
- Rahul Gandhi spoke at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, discussing his political transformation and the concept of 'Yatra'.
- He initially dismissed the idea of walking across India as 'ridiculous', but later recognized it as a necessary response to the failures of democratic institutions.
- Gandhi's journey was both a political strategy and a personal aspiration, reflecting his desire to connect with the people of India.
During a media interaction at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a prominent Congress leader, discussed his political journey and the concept of 'Yatra'. He reflected on the significant changes in Indian politics since 2014, describing it as a phase marked by aggressive attacks on democratic structures. Initially, he found the idea of walking across India from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir to be 'ridiculous'. However, he later acknowledged that this journey became essential to connect with the people, as traditional democratic instruments like media and courts were failing. Gandhi emphasized that the Yatra was a necessary political response to these challenges, stating that it worked effectively at both political and personal levels. He also revealed that he had always harbored a desire to undertake such a journey, indicating a long-standing personal aspiration to explore and understand his country more deeply. This visit to the United States included meetings with US lawmakers, highlighting his efforts to engage with international audiences about the political situation in India.