Let’s Explore the Fascinating Journey of the Bharat Jodo Yatra with Rahul Gandhi.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is a campaign set by the Indian National Congress that is taking place at present. Headed by Rahul Gandhi, the congress leader, the march is going forth by assembling the party cadre and common people. All are walking on foot, starting from Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of the country. And forging ahead to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, covering 3,570 kilometers in 150 days.
According to the Congress party, the crusade was called for the unification of the country. In opposition to the supposed “divisive politics” of the present Bhartiya Janata Party’s central government.
The logo, tagline, and website for Bharat Jodo Yatra were unfurled at AICC headquarters on August 23, 2022. The yatra began in Kanyakumari on the 7th of September, 2022. It will cover 3,570 kilometers in 150 days of non-stop marching, covering 12 states and two of the union territories. Gandhi will meet people during the day and sleep in make-do chambers at night. These “make-do” chambers are mobile containers built by Tata Corporation.
Rahul Gandhi used the container with an air conditioner. While other containers did not even have fans and shared accommodations with other passengers. The passengers have to cover a distance of about 23 km daily in two shifts. By December 2022, the march will have covered more than 3,000 kilometers.
There are many similarities between the Congress’ “Bharat Jodo Yatra” and former Indian Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar’s nearly 4,260-kilometer-long “Bharat Yatra” in 1983.
Methods
Slogans
Debates
This march utilized various catchphrases, poems, and lyrics such as Mile Kadam, Jude Vatan, Mehengai Se Nata Todo, Mil Kar Bharat Jodo, Berozagari Ka Jaal Todo, Bharat Jodo, Nafrat.
The walkers, or yatris, talked with aam Janata every day during the time break from walking.
Public rally
The party adopted another method for a public rally. Rahul Gandhi addressed the public in Bellary on October 15 as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, while he was in Karnataka.
Participants
Three different types of pediatricians will be present throughout the five months of March. The first to complete the yatra on foot will be the Bharat Yatris. The second group will be Atithi Yatris from the states that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is not covering. The Pradesh Yatris will be the third group of 100 yatris that the state is traveling through.
Supporters
Several bottom-line organizations have joined or validated the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Congress party has also called the citizens and other groups to join the march. People have been requested to join “the Bharat Jodo Yatra” by about 200 members of civil society.
For the yatra, the Congress party has extended invitations to Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar, and Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister.
At least 89 organizations based in the state of Karnataka announced their support for and participate in it.
Reactions
National
The central government of the Bhartiya Janata Party condemned the march, calling it a “Parivar Bachao Rally”. In return for this statement, Congress reverted that the BJP was disturbed by the march and its enormous support by the people.
● M.K. Stalin’s party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, supported the yatra. And he was also present at the launch of the Yatra at Kanyakumari on the 7th of September.
●Initially, the NCP remained aloof from yantras and claimed that this was all to prove that Congress was still alive. However, NCP chief Sharad Pawar hit back at his party’s statement and claimed that the yatra is very useful for Rahul Gandhi and the party.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) supported the yatra through its voice,Samana. And accused the BJP of terrorizing the Congress rally. According to Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, despite political differences, Rahul Gandhi is a person who breathes friendship and affection.
● At the initial stage, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the yatra. But soon it took a subdued stand, stating that every party has the right to mingle with the people. Reaching common people is good.
● It was a surprise when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed the minorities of the country just after the start of the yatra. Congress justified it by saying that it was an influence and success of the march.
Many others, including Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, wished Rahul Gandhi luck on his Bharat Jodo Yatra. Senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Champat Rai appreciated Rahul Gandhi’s efforts. And he said that a fifty-year-old young man was walking in the freezing weather to understand India.
International
On the international front, Hollywood actor, John Cusack put out his support for Bharat Jodo Yatra and stated that he stands in support of “anti-fascists everywhere.”
Controversies
Critics have condemned the yatra for not visiting the poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh..
Three Congress workers in Kollam demanded a Rs 2,000 donation from a street vendor. But when he gave 500 rupees, someone damaged his weighing machine and vegetables. Then the Congress Party suspended the party workers.
Resistance
There was an argument between Congress and BJP after ripping off hoardings welcoming Rahul Gandhi in Gundlupet, Karnataka, on September 29, 2022. Congress blamed the lawbreaker for it.
Protests
There were some protests when the yatra reached Karnataka. As the pro-Kannada movement protested the appearance of Rahul Gandhi’s image on the Karnataka flag. They warned the Congress party not to repeat it.
Farmers in Rajasthan once again protested, claiming that Rahul Gandhi broke his promise of loan waiver to farmers during the election campaign.
Impact
On the fourth day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi reopened a road that had been closed in 1993 due to caste-based violence.
Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot renamed a route known as Sodala elevated road, to “Bharat Jodo Setu”, on Thursday, October 7, 2022
Responses
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and BJP loyalist BS Yediyurappa launched the “Jana Sankalp Yatra” on October 11, 2022.
On December 1, the BJP started its “Jan Aakrosh Yatra” in Rajasthan in opposition to the Ashok Gehlot government. But there was a very lukewarm public response.
Despite getting invitations from the Congress party, the two leaders, Mayawati of the Bahujan Samaj Party and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, refrained from joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
