Rahul Gandhi launches White T-shirt Movement: What is it?

NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has often made headlines for his sartorial choices- sometimes for its price, sometimes for the colour. Banking on the latter, Gandhi has launched a ‘White T-shirt Movement’ calling for collective action to secure justice and rights for the poor and working class, claiming that the Modi government has turned its back on them and focused solely on benefiting a select group of capitalists.
“Today, the Modi government has turned its back on the poor and working class and has completely left them to their own devices. The government’s entire focus is on enriching only a select few capitalists. Due to this, inequality is constantly increasing and the condition of the workers who work hard to nourish the country is getting worse. They are forced to endure various kinds of injustice and atrocities,” the Congress leader said in a post on X.
“In such a situation, it becomes the responsibility of all of us to raise our voices together to get them justice and rights. With this thought in mind, we are starting #WhiteTshirtMovement . I appeal to my youth and working class friends to participate in this movement with great enthusiasm,” he added.

What is it all about?

According to the website of the ‘White T-shirt Movement,’ a ‘white T-shirt’ represents more than just a simple garment. It symbolizes the party’s five core principles: compassion, unity, non-violence, equality, and progress for everyone.
“These values resonate the spirit of India’s 8000-year-old civilisation, which is based on harmony and diversity. Today, growing inequalities that are rooted in income, caste and religion demand action beyond ideology,” it said.
“Let us all be agents of change and embrace this way of life with pride. The white T-shirt is our symbol – a call for a just and unified India. By wearing it, we honour the spirit of Bharat Jodo, which echoes the goals of the Bharat Jodo Yatra: bridging divides and building a cohesive, equitable nation,” it further said.