NEW DELHI: It’s a 3,500-km padyatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to apparently “unite the nation”. And the Bharat Jodo Yatra, to be undertaken by the Congress, will now be launched on September 7. Earlier, it was to be held from October 2.
In a statement, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said, “On this day 80 years ago, the Congress, under the leadership and inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi, launched the ‘Bharat Chhodo’ (Quit India) movement that won our country freedom five years later.”
“Today, the Congress announces the launch of its Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra on September 7,” Ramesh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said.
Earlier, the Bharat Jodo Yatra was planned for October 2. The decision of Bharat Jodo Yatra was taken during the three-day Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir in Rajasthan’s Udaipur between May 13 and 15.
The Congress leader said that this is a padayatra to be taken out throughout 12 states and two Union Territories. “It will about 3,500-km-long and will be completed in about 150 days. Congress workers and leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, will participate in the yatra,” he added.
According to party leaders, Rahul will do a padyatra of 511 km in Karnataka in 21 days and will cover eight districts and seven Parliamentary constituencies.
“The Congress appeals to all, wanting to be part of a gigantic national endeavour, to provide an alternative to the politics of fear, bigotry and prejudice and to the economics of livelihood destruction, increasing unemployment and growing inequalities to participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Ramesh added.