Kanyakumari, the country’s southernmost city, was buzzing with activities this evening as Congress workers geared up for the launch of the “Bharat Jodo Yatra”. According to the Congress, this ‘yatra’ is the biggest mass contact program since independence and a ‘turning point’ in India’s political history.
The walls of the coastal city were covered with posters that read “Welcome Rahul Gandhi” and “India Jodi Yatra” in Tamil.
Rahul Gandhi will receive a Khadi flag from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at the ‘Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam’ and hand it over to the Seva Dal workers, who will manage the 3,570-km route from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
Congress general secretaries KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh along with senior party leader and in-charge of travel organization panel Digvijay Singh conducted a final check of the preparations at the seaside venue of the rally near “Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam”.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm and enthusiasm among Congress workers across the country,” Ramesh said.
The former Union minister said, “Even in states that are not on the yatra route, people are excited because in each state, Congress will organize similar trips on a smaller scale – maybe 50-km, 100-km.” Yatras, which are connected by travel routes. The main theme of uniting India, an India torn apart by economic inequalities, social polarization and hyper-centralisation.”
Taking a political jibe at the BJP, Ramesh said it will not be a journey of speeches where announcements are made.
He said Gandhi would be accompanied by 118 Congressmen and women and he would hold talks with various groups, including civil society organizations and fishermen’s associations.
“The party is focused and ready to make the Bharat Jodi Yatra a success as it is the biggest mass movement program in independent India,” Ramesh said.
The veteran Congress leader further said, “This is the longest journey undertaken by the party. It is a turning point in Indian political history. The padyatra (foot march) has its own significance and it is transformational politics. This is what politics is about. It is about the politics of abuse, vengeance and slander.”
Gandhi will also visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue and Kamaraj Memorial in Kanyakumari before starting the yatra.
About ‘Bharat Jodi Yatra’
The 3,570 km journey from Kanyakumari to Srinagar will cover 12 states and two union territories in about five months. It will be formally launched at the rally, it will actually start at 7 am on September 8 when Gandhi and several other Congress leaders will set out on the march.
The tagline of the journey is “Mile Kadam, Jud Watan”.
The Yatra will start from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and then move northwards, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Nilambur, Mysore, Bellary, Raichur, Vikarabad, Nanded, Jalgaon, Indore, Kota, Dausa, Alwar, Bulandshahr, Delhi, Ambala, Pathankot and Jammu, Before concluding in Srinagar.
Those participating in the Yatra are classified as “Bharat Yatris”, “Atithi Yatras”, “Pradesh Yatris” and “Volunteer Yatris”.
(with inputs from PTI)
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