Shiv Sena’s Raut join’s Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra in J&K amidst criticism

Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut Friday joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as it entered the Union Territory of Jammu and KashmirThe Yatra resumed from Hatli Morh in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday with several prominent leaders including Sanjay Raut joining the foot marchAlthough the yatra was scheduled to start at 7 am but was delayed by an hour and fifteen minutes due to heavy rains Several Congress leaders including the partyrsquos Jammu and Kashmir unit president Vikar Rasool Wani and his predecessor G A Mir accompanied Gandhi during the final leg of the Bharat Jodo YatraAlso read Jammu and Kashmirleg of Bharat Jodo Yatra beginsSpeaking to reporters Raut said he sees Rahul Gandhi as a leader who raises his voice He said the atmosphere of the country is changing People are joining the Yatra BharatJodoYatra pictwittercomF8X9dsbdw2mdash Bharat Jodo bharatjodo January 20 2023On Thursday Raut who is on a threeday visit to Jammu and Kashmir met government employees from the Kashmiri Pandit community who have been protesting for over 11 months demanding their relocation The Shiv Sena leader expressed his solidarity with themRautrsquos move comes amidst heavy criticism by the rival faction of the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath ShindeBharat Jodo Yatrarsquos official twitter handle tweeted the picture of Raut wlaking alongside Rahil Gandhi in JampKrsquos Kathu ldquoWhats gonna stop us We are determined to unite Indiardquo read the caption of the pictures in Hindi BharatJodoYatra pictwittercomDitdnTePpKmdash Congress INCIndia January 20 2023Saamana a mouth piece of Shiv Sena of which raut is the executive editor also tweeted a video of the yatra ldquoShiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut has participated in Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu today It is raining in Jammu today But even in the rain Rahul Gandhi and Sanjay Raut are walking SICrdquo read the description of the tweetOn Thursday former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference Member of Parliament from SrinagarBudgam constituency Dr Farooq Abdullah travelled from the erstwhile statersquos summer capital Srinagar to Lakhanpur and the nearby Madhavpur bridge which connects Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country to embrace Rahul GandhiFarooq who heads the alliance fighting for the restoration of Article 370 shook hands with Rahul as thousands of supporters cheered to the tunes of Dogri Punjabi and Kashmiri songs and chanted slogans in favour of a united and inclusive IndiaRahul tried to strike a chord with the people recalling how his ancestors had travelled to Uttar Pradesh from Jammu and KashmirldquoI am returning to my roots starting on foot from Kanyakumari to Kashmir I am here to learn from you Each one of you has suffered a lot and I want to humbly say that I am here to share your griefrdquo he said without directly referring to the changes brought about in Kashmir in the past few yearsFarooq compared Rahulrsquos KanyakumaritoKashmir walkathon to one undertaken by Vedic scholar Shankaracharya in the eighth centuryldquoYou are the second person to undertake such travel from Kanyakumari to Kashmir the reason being that this country is being divided on religious lines and hate reigns supremerdquo he said perhaps careful not to create any awkwardness by mentioning the restoration of Article 370On Thursday Gandhi attacked the BJP and the RSS accusing them of spreading hatred and implementing policies that ldquohave led to widespread unemploymentrdquoldquoI am going back to my roots I know the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and come to you with a bowed head My ancestors belonged to this land I feel I am returning homerdquo he said With inputs from agencies