Rahul Gandhi’s International Trip and Hunger Strike in Maharashtra
- Rahul Gandhi is currently in Brussels and plans to meet Members of the European Parliament.
- In Maharashtra, people are closely watching Manoj Jarange Patil, a Maratha activist who is on a hunger strike.
One-Year Anniversary of Rahul Gandhi’s Long Journey
- A year ago, Rahul Gandhi started a 136-day, 4,000-km journey across India.
- It’s unclear what the Congress achieved from this journey and how it will affect the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- Today, Congress marks the yatra’s one-year anniversary, but Rahul Gandhi is not present as he is in Europe.
Congress’s Plans for the Day
- Congress plans to hold foot marches in 722 places across India.
- Members of the Congress Working Committee, state Congress presidents, and Congress Legislature Party leaders will participate in these marches to convey the yatra’s message.
- The small yatras will end with Bharat Jodo rallies in different districts.
- There’s no confirmed date for a second nationwide yatra, but it might happen closer to the Lok Sabha elections, possibly after the five state elections in November-December.
Rahul Gandhi’s Current Activities
- Rahul Gandhi is in Brussels, Belgium, and is consulting with Members of the European Parliament.
- He will also have dinner with non-resident Indians during his five-day Europe tour.
PM Modi’s Busy Schedule in Jakarta
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the ASEAN-India meet and East Asia Summit.
- He has a packed schedule and will return to New Delhi in the evening.
- Modi’s schedule is tight leading up to the G-20 Summit over the weekend.
Developments in Maharashtra
- Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil will announce whether he will continue his hunger strike today.
- Maharashtra’s Chief Minister has announced that Maratha community members with old documents from the Nizam era will receive Kunbi OBC caste certificates.
- A committee has been formed to prepare the procedure for issuing these certificates.
- The political impact of this government decision will be closely monitored, especially considering Patil’s hunger strike.
- The Opposition is concerned about the potential dilution of the OBC quota, but a senior Cabinet Minister has assured this won’t happen.
West Bengal Assembly’s Discussion
- The West Bengal Assembly will discuss the state’s foundation day.
- On June 20, 1947, separate meetings were held by legislators who wanted Bengal to be part of India and those from areas that became East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
- The Trinamool Congress (TMC) advocates celebrating Poila Boisakh (Bengali New Year) as the foundation day despite objections from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.