NEW DELHI, Dec 14: The Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at his Bharat Jodo Yatra on Wednesday morning in Rajasthan. Videos shared on social media showed Mr Rajan and Mr Gandhi having a discussion while marching as the Congress’s foot-march resumed from Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan.
“#BharatJodoYatra Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan walks with Rahul Gandhi. The increasing number of people standing up to unite the country against hatred shows hum honge kamiyab (we’ll be successful),” the Congress tweeted.
Criticising the former RBI governor joining the Yatra, the BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said Mr Rajan “fancies himself as the next Manmohan Singh.” He also called his commentaries on the Indian economy “opportunistic.” Raghuram Rajan, former RBI Governor, a Congress appointee, joining Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is not a surprise. He fancies himself as the next Manmohan Singh. Just that his commentary on India’s economy should be discarded with disdain. It is coloured and opportunistic,” Malviya said.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is set to conclude in Kashmir – likely on Republic Day next year, has seen several guests joining from different walks of life. Activist Medha Patkar, self-styled godman Namdev Das Tyagi (popularly known as Computer Baba), actor Swara Bhasker, and boxer Vijender Singh are among those who participated in Mr Gandhi’s yatra over the past few months.
(Manas Dasgupta)