India Jodo Tour: The ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed in Delhi as it was scheduled to enter Uttar Pradesh from Ghaziabad on Tuesday and reach Baghpat in the evening. The padyatra resumed from Delhi after a long break of 9 days and will cover a distance of about 10 kms in the national capital and then reach Loni, Ghaziabad. Then it will go towards Baghpat. It will pass through Shamli in UP on January 4 and enter Haryana via Sanauli in Panipat in the evening of January 5.
Akhilesh will not come
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav thanked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for inviting him on his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and wished it success, though the party said he would not attend it.
SP’s chief spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhary said that Akhilesh would not participate in the yatra and neither would any other party leader. The SP said, “India is a spirit that is beyond geographical expanse, where love, non-violence, feelings, cooperation and brotherhood are the positive elements that unite India.”
“Hope this yatra achieves its goal of preserving this inclusive culture,” the former UP chief minister said in a message posted on Twitter.
Om Prakash Rajbhar will also not attend
Meanwhile, in Ballia, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar told PTI, “A few days ago, I received an invitation for Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo visit, and former Union minister Salman Khurshid informed me on this.” called to discuss.
The matter was discussed with party office-bearers on Sunday and it was decided that the party will not be a part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Rajbhar also asked what was the need to integrate India when it had never been disintegrated before.
Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson of the Indian Farmers Union
Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said that he would not participate in the yatra.
“I am not going to participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra. But we are not stopping anyone from participating in it. BKU workers who want to participate in the Yatra are free to do so.” However, functionaries above the rank of district will not participate in the President’s visit,” he said.
He told PTI over phone, “Ours is a non-political organisation. There are people of different ideologies in our organization.
mayawati thanks rahul gandhi for invitation for bharat jodo yatra
Ahead of the resumption of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra from winter break, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati thanked Rahul Gandhi for inviting her to join the yatra.
“Best wishes for ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and thanks to Rahul Gandhi for writing me a letter to participate in the yatra,” the BSP chief said in a tweet in Hindi.
Although there is no information about whether Mayawati will join the yatra or not.
Chief priest of Ram temple wishes Rahul Gandhi
A day before Rahul Gandhi-led ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ enters Uttar Pradesh, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple here on Monday wished that Lord Ram’s blessings be with the Congress leader forever. In a letter to Gandhi, chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das extended his support to the former Congress chief on his move to unite the country. The letter said, “I hope and pray that the mission for which you are fighting is crowned with success. I wish you the blessings of your long life.”
He said, “You are working for the noble cause called ‘Sarvajan Hitaya Sarvajan Sukhay’ in the interest of the people and for the happiness of the people. I wish Lord Rama’s blessings to be with you always.”
preparations in baghpat
Congressmen from different parts of Uttar Pradesh started gathering at Mavi Kalan here on Monday to make last-minute arrangements to ensure a grand welcome for Gandhi and others.
Accompanied by a large number of party workers and leaders, the former party chief will stay at a farm house in Mavi Kalan for the night and start onward journey on Wednesday morning.
The party’s district unit president Yunus Chowdhary told PTI, “Arrangements have been made at Hari Castle Farm House in Mavi Kalan village for the night stay of Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders.” About 250 distinguished guests will accompany Gandhi.
He said, “In view of the cold weather, arrangements for mattresses and blankets have been made in the big pandal for the workers coming from outside.”
A cook working there said that a kitchen has also been set up and the cooks have already started preparations as a large number of people will have to be served on Tuesday.
Speaking about the yatra route in the district, Chowdhary said it would start from Mavi Kalan village on January 4 morning and reach the cave temple where party workers would take a break for ‘darshan’ (puja) and food. After this, the yatra will enter Baraut town via Sarurpurkalan village. Chaudhary said that Gandhi will also address the ‘Nukkad Sabha’ organized at Chhaprauli Chungi in Badaut.
The foot march, which began in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari on September 7, has so far traveled over 2,800 km across 10 states and will end in Kashmir this month.
Read also: Bharat Jodo Yatra: The chief priest of the Ram temple wished Rahul Gandhi success in his padyatra