Rahul’s march success prompts Congress to extend programme
The Congress party has announced regional editions of its flagship Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) or Unite India March to prepare itself for the national elections 17 months away.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin flagged off the foot march led by Rahul Gandhi from India’s southern tip of Kanyakumari to northernmost Kashmir on Sept.7.
It has been receiving huge support from enthusiastic crowds all along prompting the party to take out regional BJYS in five states that Gandhi’s march does not touch this year.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, the party’s chief spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said the exercise is meant to strengthen, revive and give new life to the party.
He said the BJY Orissa led by the state leaders will start on Oct.31 from Bhubaneshwar and return to the state capital traversing 2,300 kilometres on foot all over the state. In Assam, the Bharat Joda Yatra’s regional edition will begin on Nov.1 from Dhubri in the western corner to walk all the way covering 800 km to reach Sadia in the north.
On Dec.28, the marchers will set out on the
Ramesh said the party launched the rally to confront the policies of the Modi govt which are ‘weakening the bonds of our unity’ and described the deserters as migrant labour
BJY West Bengal from Sundarbans in the south to Siliguri which is at the northern tip of the western Indian state. The party will announce the dates of the mass outreach programme along the lines of Gandhi’s long march in Bihar, Jharkhand and Utar Pradesh “very soon.”
“Next year, it’s possible that we’ll have a westto-east march from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh,” Ramesh said.
“Our entire focus is on making the Bharat Jodo Yatra a success and for the last 14 days, it’s been receiving tremendous public support.”
India’s oldest political party is out of power for more than eight years now and it has been facing a series of desertions of late. Most of its leaders are joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalistbharatiyajanataparty(bjp)buttheparty says its doors are wide open for anybody to leave.
“We are not distracted by the desertions. If you’re confused about our ideology, it’s beter to go. It’ll in fact strengthen the party,” Ramesh said.
For each one leaving, there are 20 young leaders who are equally capable, experienced and more commited to the Congress ideology.”
He said the party launched the BJY to confront the policies of the Modi government which are “weakening the bonds of our unity” and described the deserters as migrant labour.
“They are leaving for personal ends. Some people like Gulam Nabi Azad let ater geting everything they wanted. Others wanted not to be bothered about tax raids,” he said. Gandhi is meeting various sections of people, mostly workers in the unorganised sectors, on the way.
On Wednesday, he interacted with the transgender community and representatives of the IT sector among others in the Kerala port city of Kochi.
On Thursday, he will interact with representatives of industries, public sector companies, trade unions, banks and insurance firms.
The day started with Gandhi paying floral tributes to iconic spiritual and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru who propagated social justice, freedom and non-violence.
Young Congress leader from Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, who was with him earlier when the match began from Tamil Nadu, rejoined him on Wednesday.
“As I walked along with him, I saw the outpouring of affection and support. I think it has certainly shaken the opposition,” he said.
“Theeffortandcommitmentthatrahulisputing into this Yatra, no other leader in India has done this scale of a Yatra. The response is overwhelming and absolutely astounding.”
The long march entered Kerala on Sept.10 and it will leave the state ater covering over 450 kilometres through seven districts before the Karnataka leg starting on Oct.1.
Rahul and his entourage were red-faced when Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader and one of the accused in Mahatma Gandhi assassination case, appeared on a banner erected to welcome his all-india tour on foot when it reached Ernakulam district.
Hindutwa ideologue VD Savarkar’s photo was printed alongside freedom fighters like Moulana Abulkalamazad,bhagatsingh,govindvallbhpant, Chandra Sekhar Azad, Rabindranath Tagore and Annie Besant among others on a banner erected to welcome Jodo Yatra at Chengamanad on the national highway at Kotai near Nedumbassery.