Subsequently, he posted pictures of him with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi inside what appears to be a customized vehicle. The Gandhi scion and Ali are seen with children in the pictures.
Asserting that his “conscience pushed him” to take the decision, Ali put up a series of tweets on social media platform ‘X’ to announce that he had decided to join the yatra after much “soul searching” and considering “two options” before him.
“Either to accept the status quo and ignore the exploitation of Dalits, backwards, tribals, minorities and other marginalised and poor sections, or to launch an all-out campaign against this atmosphere of fear, hate, exploitation and the deepening divide in the country,” he said in one of his tweets.
“My conscience pushed me to take the second option. Taking this decision came naturally to me as I was myself at the receiving end of a similar attack in Parliament, where swear words were used by a member of the ruling party against me and my religion,” he added.
Ali was talking about BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri’s anti-Muslim remarks against Ali during a discussion in the Lok Sabha in September last year.
According to a letter that Ali wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Bidhuri allegedly used “foul, abusive invectives” including ‘bhadwa’ (pimp), ‘katwa’ (circumcised one), ‘mullah ugravadi’ (Muslim terrorist), and ‘atankvadi’ (terrorist) against him.
While Bidhuri’s remarks were expunged from the Parliament records, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claimed that “Ali had instigated” Bidhuri.
At least four opposition parties had asked the Lok Sabha Speaker to refer the matter to the Parliament’s privilege committee. The panel had then issued a notice to Bidhuri asking him to appear 10 October and give his statement. Eight of the 14 committee members, including chairperson Sunil Kumar Singh, are from the ruling BJP.
As his call for justice and action “fell on deaf ears”, Ali said that “instead of punishing his attacker, the ruling establishment rewarded him”.
The BJP had appointed Bidhuri as the election incharge of the Tonk assembly constituency in Rajasthan after the controversy.
The attack was part of a larger plan to create an atmosphere of fear and hate in the country, he said, adding that Rahul Gandhi was the first leader to express solidarity and stand by him and his family.
“This yatra is a call for action against divisive forces. This yatra is a drive to unite the people of the country against fear, hate, exploitation and divisiveness. I have decided to join him in the yatra because I feel I would be failing in my duty as a politician and a social worker if I did not join the biggest drive for unity and justice. I pray for the success of this yatra and for the future of my country,” Ali tweeted.
Ali made his decision to join the yatra a month after BSP chief Mayawati suspended him for alleged anti-party activities.
On 9 December, the BSP had said in a statement that earlier too, Ali was warned not to indulge in anti-party activities, and reminded him that he was inducted into the party “as part of the BSP’s coalition with the Janata Dal (S) ahead of the Lok Sabha polls on a condition that he would work for the party.”
The suspension had come a day after Ali along with other opposition MPs had staged a walk out from the Lok Sabha to protest against the decision to expel Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra from Lok Sabha.
Ever since that controversy erupted, Ali has given several indications of his inclination towards the Congress. In September, Ali had met Rahul Gandhi who then posted a photograph of the two sharing a hug. “A shop of love in the market of hatred,” Gandhi had posted on X.
On Sunday, Ali posted the same pictures while announcing his decision to join Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyaya yatra.
Today, I have decided to join Shri Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. This is a very important moment for me. I have arrived here after much soul searching. In the atmosphere prevailing in the country, I had two options. 1/7
Kunwar Danish Ali (@KDanishAli) January 14, 2024
The former BSP leader had also pitched for Opposition unity, which he described as “more necessary than ever before” sparking reports of a possibility of his joining the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Tweets by @RahulGandhi
