Rahul Gandhi launches portal to document protests across India
India’s Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has launched an online portal to document protests against alleged injustices across the country, inviting people involved in different movements to submit their stories.
The initiative, named “Satyagraha”, comes shortly after the INDIA bloc decided to step up protests against the Centre, particularly over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“Across the country, people are fighting for their rights — and too often, fighting alone. Gen Z, students, farmers, Adivasis, Dalits, women — every struggle has its own story. But a lone voice is often easier to silence. ‘Satyagraha’ is an initiative to bring these voices together on one map,” Rahul said in a post on X, reports The Telegraph Online.
“Bapu taught us that truth is our greatest weapon. But an even greater weapon is standing together with the truth. If you too are fighting against any injustice, share your story. It will take just two minutes. Your story will find a place on the Satyagraha map. You’ll see who else, like you, is fighting their own battle,” he added.
The portal, available at rahulgandhi.in/satyagraha, displays a map of India with dots indicating locations where protests are taking place. At present, it gives brief descriptions of the issues behind protests in different states rather than details of individual demonstrations.
Rahul also said he would support those involved in such movements.
“And I will do whatever I can — in Parliament, on the streets, through letters, wherever I am needed — to stand with you. As the Leader of the Opposition, that is my responsibility,” he posted.
The Congress leader had earlier launched another webpage on the same portal opposing the Great Nicobar Island Development Project.
The INDIA bloc decided earlier this week to seek greater participation from NGOs in protests against the Centre, particularly over the SIR.
At a programme in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi, Congress president and Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Illegal elections are being held in the country. Modi is an illegal Prime Minister. Shah is an illegal home minister. Governments should be dissolved and elections should be held through ballots.”
Meanwhile, several people joined the Congress on Saturday, including AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar.
Kakkar, a Delhi-based lawyer, was regarded as being aligned with the camp led by AAP leader Sanjay Singh. Following last year’s Delhi Assembly elections, she lost ground to former journalist Anurag Dhanda, who is now the party’s national media in-charge.
“New people who have not even worked at the booth level are being brought in from Rajasthan and given senior positions in Punjab, along with bungalows and cars. How long can I defend the indefensible?” Kakkar told reporters after joining the Congress.
Swami Prasad Maurya, who heads the Apni Janata Party and is a former minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, also met Rahul in Delhi on Saturday. He said he now considered himself part of the INDIA bloc.