New politics: Rahul has learned how to connect with people
#News Bureau Politics October7,2024
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has written such a chapter before the Maharashtra Assembly elections, which will not be countered by PM Modi, Amit Shah or even RSS. The announcement of assembly elections in Maharashtra can be made anytime. Rahul Gandhi was in Maharashtra on a two-day tour. Dalit voters in Maharashtra are 15-16 percent. This video is communicating with Dalits across the country apart from Maharashtra.
Similarly, during the Haryana elections, Rahul Gandhi had changed the entire election atmosphere by making a video named Donkey on the unemployed youth there. Its effect was clearly visible on the day of voting on October 5. This way of communication of Rahul Gandhi is absolutely new. He is directly communicating with the people living with problems, spending time with them, sharing their pain. This is a new kind of election dialogue. Rahul Gandhi is its father.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi shared a video on social media on Monday. In the video, he can be seen enjoying food with a Dalit couple in their house in Kolhapur, Maharashtra and eating Dalit cuisine. But in between, Rahul can be seen asking questions, seeking information on the challenges faced by the Dalit community.
In the 6-minute video posted on Instagram, Congress MP Rahul is seen listening eagerly to Shahu Patole, author of ‘Dalit Kitchen of Marathwada’, about Dalit cuisine. He also tried his hand at preparing ‘Harbharyaachi Bhaji’ (a vegetable made from chickpea greens) and ‘Tur Dal’ with brinjal.
The Sanade family shared their experiences of caste-based discrimination and the importance of Dalit cuisine in a candid conversation with Rahul. During the discussion, Patole shared information about his book. Rahul Gandhi showed keen interest in understanding Dalit cuisine and its social and political significance.
Quoting Sahu Patole, he said, “Nobody knows what Dalits eat.” Referring to Patole’s book, he said that its purpose is to tell about how Dalits cook food.
Rahul said- “Even today, very few people know about Dalit kitchens. As Shahu Patole ji said, ‘Nobody knows what Dalits eat.’ Curious about what they eat, how they cook and its social and political significance, I spent an afternoon with Ajay Tukaram Sanade and Anjana Tukaram Sanade,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
He further wrote, “Talking about Patole ji and the Sanade family’s personal experiences with caste and discrimination, we discussed the lack of awareness about Dalit cuisine and the importance of documenting this culture.” The Congress MP underlined that the Constitution gives participation and rights to Dalits. He said, “But true inclusion and equality of all in society will be possible only when every Indian strives with the spirit of brotherhood in his heart.”
Rahul Gandhi’s Maharashtra tour is happening ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, which are likely to be held later this year. The Gandhi family has advocated a nationwide caste census, saying that it will ensure that every person from backward communities gets their rights.
Before Rahul Gandhi went to the Dalit kitchen and helped in cooking, Rahul sat at a cobbler’s shop in Sultanpur, which had its own problems. Rahul went among the porters. Rahul went among the truck drivers. He went among the loco railway employees. In Karnataka, he went among the gig workers. This style of Rahul is being discussed fiercely on social media.
