Turning point in Indian politics: Congress ahead of start of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'

Ahead of the launch of its Bharat Jodo Yatra on Wednesday the Congress said it is a turning point in Indian politics and marks a new beginningFormer Congress president Rahul Gandhi took part in a prayer meeting at Rajiv Gandhi memorial in Sriperumbudur Wednesday morningHe will attend an event at 430 pm in Kanyakumari where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin Rajasthans Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarhs Bhupesh Baghel will be presentStalin will present a national flag made of khadi to Gandhi who will hand it over to Seva Dal workers who will manage the Yatra throughoutSeptember 7 2022 A day when Indias oldest political party will launch the longest padyatra ever undertaken It is a sombre day a day for quiet reflection and renewed resolve Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweetThis is a turning point in Indian politics It marks a new beginning he saidAlso Read Bharat Jodo Yatra is no Mann Ki Baat objective to convey peoples concerns to Delhi CongressWith the launch of the 3570 km Yatra at a mega rally here the Congress is seeking to flag economic disparities social polarisation and political centralisation while attempting to make gains in what it often described as battle of ideologiesAfter the event at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam where Stalin will be present Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders will walk to the seaside venue of the rally where the yatra will be formally launchedSources said a message from the Congress president could be read or a video message from her be shown at the event Sonia Gandhis mother passed away recently in Italy Both she and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are abroadRahul Gandhi arrived in Chennai Tuesday nightRamesh had said Tuesday that the Yatra is a transformational moment for Indian politics and it is a decisive moment for the rejuvenation of the partyA final check on the preparations at the venue near the Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam was done by general secretaries K C Venugopal and Ramesh along with senior leader and Yatra organisation panel incharge Digvijaya Singh on TuesdatThere is a lot of enthusiasm and excitement among the Congress workers across India Ramesh had told PTIEven in states where the Yatra is not passing through people are excited In each state the Congress will organise similar Yatras on a smaller scale may be of 50 km or 100 km on the main theme of uniting India an India being torn apart by economic inequalities social polarisation and overcentralisation he had saidThe party is focused on making Bharat Jodo Yatra successful because it is the largest mass mobilisation programme it has undertaken in Independent India he saidIn a video message Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had urged people to join the Yatra wherever possible She asserted the Yatra was needed as negative politics was being practised in the country and real issues were not being discussed It aims to put focus on peoples issues such as price rise and unemployment she has saidThough the march covering 12 states and two Union Territories in about five months will be formally launched at the rally it will actually begin at 7 am on Thursday when Gandhi and other Congress leaders will embark on the march Before the launch Rahul Gandhi will also visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial Thiruvalluvar statue and Kamaraj Memorial in KanyakumariThe march will move in two batches from 7 am to 1030 am and from 330 pm to 630 pm While the morning session will include fewer participants the evening session will see mass mobilisation The participants plan to walk around 22 to 23 km daily The Congress has asserted its Yatra is not a Mann Ki Baat but to ensure peoples concerns reach DelhiIt has classified 119 leaders including Rahul Gandhi as Bharat Yatris who will walk the entire route About 30 per cent of Bharat Yatris are women The average age of Bharat Yatris is 38About 50000 citizens have also registered to participate in the Yatra To coincide with the launch of the Yatra on Wednesday Prarthana Sabhas will be held by the Congress state units at 5 pm a leader said At 7 am Thursday 10 km foot marches will be held at block levelAfter reaching Kerala on September 11 the Yatra will traverse through the state for the next 18 days reaching Karnataka on September 30 It will be in Karnataka for 21 days before moving northIt will pass through Thiruvananthapuram Kochi Nilambur Mysuru Bellary Raichur Vikarabad Nanded Jalgaon Indore Kota Dausa Alwar Bulandshahr Delhi Ambala Pathankot Jammu and end in SrinagarThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever