'Arrived here after much soul searching': Danish Ali after joining Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

After reaching Manipur, Ali said in a statement that he has decided to join Rahul in the yatra because he feel he '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'.

Khongjom: Suspended BSP MP Danish Ali on Sunday joined Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here, indicating his future course of ‘political journey' following what is perceived as an imminent break with the Mayawati-led party.

While he did not announce joining the party, his presence in the dais along with top Congress leaders and with Rahul in the customised bus along with a select group of party leaders underlined that he has finalised his future plans and prepared to face the axe from the BSP.

After reaching Manipur, Ali announced through a post on X that he has decided to join Rahul in the yatra because he feels he “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”.

The 48-year-old Amroha MP was suspended last month by the BSP on charges of anti-party activities and for making statements “against the ideology and policies” of the party after he publicly opposed BJP's move to expel Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra from Lok Sabha.

Ali's move also indicated a separation from his political guru and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda after the JD(S) entered into an alliance with the BJP again. He had joined BSP ahead of Lok Sabha elections to contest from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh with the permission of Gowda.

“Today, I have decided to join Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. This is a very important moment for me. I have arrived here after much soul searching,” he said, recalling that Rahul was the "first leader to express solidarity" with him in the "hour of distress" after he faced a hate "attack" in Parliament when BJP MP Ramesh Bidhusri used communal slurs against him.

In the atmosphere prevailing in the country, he said he had two options – 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.

“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 said.

“My call for justice and action against the guilty member of Parliament fell on deaf ears. Instead of punishing my attacker, the ruling establishment rewarded him. I have realised that the attack on me was part of a larger plan to create an atmosphere of fear and hate in the country,” he said.

"The purpose of Rahul Gandhi-ji’s yatra is to get justice for the marginalised and exploited section. This yatra is a call for action against divisive forces. This yatra is a drive to unite the people of our country against fear, hate, exploitation and divisiveness. I have decided to join him in this 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," he added.