The east-to-west Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra by the Congress party will traverse 100 Lok Sabha segments in 15 states across 6,713 km covering 110 districts, 100 Lok Sabha seats, and 337 assembly segments in 67 days, before its finale in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.
The grand old Congress party is all set to embark on the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from the ethnic conflict-hit northeastern state of Manipur on Sunday. The second edition of Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra is being seen as the party's bid to set the narrative in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls where the party is expected to emphasize issues such as unemployment, price rise, and social justice.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said emotional issues are being "misused" politically and attention is being diverted from real issues, in a "betrayal" of the people of the country. In a post on X, the former Congress president said, "The youth will have to think about what will be the identity of the India of our dreams? Quality of life or just emotions? Youth raising provocative slogans or the employed youth? Love or hate?"
In a press conference held on Saturday, the Congress asserted that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, is an ideological expedition rather than an electoral campaign. The yatra, set to commence from Thoubal district, is positioned as the Congress party's strategic move to shape the narrative leading up to the Lok Sabha polls. The party aims to draw attention to critical issues such as unemployment, inflation, and social justice.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary, conveyed that the primary objective of the yatra is to address what the party terms as the "anyay kaal" (unjust period) endured during the ten-year tenure of the Narendra Modi government. Ramesh highlighted the challenges posed by an ideology promoting polarization, economic disparities, and political authoritarianism.
During the press conference, Ramesh, joined by key party members including former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, State Party Chief Keisham Meghachandra Singh, former Arunachal Pradesh CM Nabam Tuki, and Congress Working Committee member Gaikhangam, criticized the stark contrast between the promised 'amrit kaal' (golden era) and the actual 'anyay kaal' experienced over the past decade.
It has been reported that the east-to-west Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will traverse across 100 Lok Sabha segments in 15 states and the party believes it will prove to be as "transformative" as Gandhi's earlier cross-country march. The procession is expected to travel across 6,713 km mostly in buses but also on foot covering 110 districts, 100 Lok Sabha seats, and 337 assembly segments in 67 days, before its finale in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.
The yatra will be flagged off from a private ground in Manipur's Thoubal district, instead of Imphal, the party's initial choice. The Manipur government had given the Congress conditional approval to flag off the yatra from the Palace grounds here, restricting the number of people. Therefore, the Congress decided to opt for another venue.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and all top leaders of the party will be in Thoubal to flag off the yatra.
The Congress has said that it is taking out the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as the government did not give it a chance to raise people's issues in Parliament and the initiative is aimed at re-establishing the principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution. The primary objective of the yatra is to raise voice against the "injustice" of the last 10 years. It has released a "Nyay anthem" with the tagline "Saho Mat, Daro Mat (do not suffer, do not be scared)".
The anthem of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was shared on all the social media handles of the party with a video featuring protesting women wrestlers, glimpses from Gandhi's Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra and his interactions with farmers and labourers.
Though the Congress has stressed that this is not an electoral yatra, it comes at a crucial juncture as the party seeks to revive its fortunes after a poor showing in the last round of assembly elections. With the BJP focusing on the January 22 Ram temple consecration ceremony, the Congress wants to put the spotlight on bread-and-butter issues through this yatra.
The Congress has also invited all leaders of the Indian National Inclusive Developmental Alliance (INDIA) bloc to join the yatra anywhere along its route.
The Manipur government has put restrictions on the Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Thoubal district on January 14. The government stated that the program should not exceed one hour due to its location next to the national highway, where traffic needs to be diverted. Additionally, the number of participants is limited to a maximum of 3000 for better management.
Originally planned at Imphal Palace Ground, the venue was changed to a private ground in Thoubal after the BJP-led N Biren Singh government conditionally approved the yatra's flag-off from the Palace grounds in Imphal, restricting the number of attendees to 1000.
The government order emphasizes the prohibition of anti-national, communal, or any adverse slogans during the rally and the yatra. Organizers are required to fully cooperate with state authorities. The permission for the yatra will be canceled if any situation arises necessitating the disassembly of the gathering to maintain peace, public order, and tranquility in the area.