What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
The Congress Party released the anthem for the 3500-kilometer ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ on Monday, saying there is no need for a “Congress Jodo” because the party is united.
The Congress Party released the anthem for the 3500-kilometer ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ on Monday, saying there is no need for a “Congress Jodo” because the party is united.
“The party is strong and united. Congress is united. And those who are not satisfied, keep on issuing statements,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Monday at the launch of the anthem of the Yatra, which will go on for 150 days from Kanyakumari to Jammu and Kashmir.
“We are a democratic party. We don’t silence voices. This is a democratic system. And we try to bring all people together. We try to reach out to all people,” Ramesh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said.
The veteran leader said that Congress is a huge family and people in the party can have different views. “People do their mann ki baat openly, some write letters, some tweet, and some give interviews, which shows democracy,” Ramesh said.
Targetting former Congressman Ghulam Nabi Azad, without naming him, Ramesh said, “There is no autocracy in our party and we try to make people comfortable. But some leave the party by abusing it, and I don’t want to comment on them.”
“But saying that Congress Jodo should be our priority is wrong as our priority is Bharat Jodo,” he added.
Azad, a member of the G23 group, resigned from all posts in the party on August 26. The veteran leader accused the new coterie of inexperienced sycophants, who started running the affairs of the grand old party.
On the election for the post of Congress president, Ramesh said it will take place if needed. “On October 17, all Bharat Jodo Yatris will be in Karnataka and if the election is needed, they will vote in Bengaluru. We have asked Madhusudan Mistry to accommodate this,” the former environment minister said.
“Many people have given statements that they want to contest. They are welcome. They should contest as this is their democratic right,” Ramesh said.
On the question of electoral rolls, with several leaders like Manish Tewari, Karti Chidambaram, and Shashi Tharoor seeking publication of it, Ramesh said, “When they fill in the form, they will get the electoral rolls.”
Talking about the details of the Yatra, Ramesh said, “The website of Bharat Jodo Yatra is very important and it will live stream the programme of the yatra. The yatra will go on between 7 am and 10.30 am and 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.”
“A Tamil song will be released in Tamil Nadu, then in Malayalam in Kerala and Kannada in Karnataka, it will be released of Bharat Jodo Yatra when this yatra reaches these states,” Ramesh said.
Ramesh also stated that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is not about Mann Ki Baat, but rather about people’s issues and concerns. “Whatever people’s concerns are and their issues are, they will be brought to Delhi. There will be no long speeches. “We are going to listen to the people of the country during the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” the Congress leader said.
He said that Rahul Gandhi would reach Kanyakumari on September 7 at 3 pm. Before reaching Kanyakumari, he will be in Sriperumbudur, where a prayer meeting will take place for one hour. Rahul Gandhi’s father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated in Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991.
Rahul Gandhi will also visit the Vivekanand Rock Memorial, Thiruvaliar Memorial, and Kamraj Memorial. He will also visit Gandhi mandapam where he will be joined by Tamil Nadu Chief minister MK Stalin, Rajasthan Chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. They will hand him an Indian national flag made of khadi, and not made of polyester from China, Ramesh said.
