Bharat Jodo Yatra

Bharat Jodo Yatra (lit: ''Unite India March)'' is an ongoing mass movement started by the Indian National Congress. Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, is orchestrating the movement by mobilising the party cadre and general public into walking by foot from Kanyakumari, the southern tip of the peninsula, to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, spanning 3,570 kilometres over 150 days.

The Congress said that they started this movement to unite the country against the alleged "divisive politics" of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government at New Delhi. Launched by Gandhi and Tamil Nadu chief minister M. K. Stalin on September 7, 2022, its main objective is to fight against the politics of "fear, bigotry and prejudice" and the economics of livelihood destruction, increasing unemployment and growing inequalities. The presidential election of the party was held during the movement. The party also formed a government on its own for the first time in 4 years during the movement.

Background

The Congress party launched the logo, tagline, and website for Bharat Jodo Yatra at AICC headquarters on 23 August 2022. The march started from Kanyakumari on 7 September. It will be a 3,570-kilometre long, 150-day 'non-stop' march that will cover 12 states and two Union Territories from across the country in which Gandhi will meet people during the day and will sleep in makeshift accommodation in the night. It started from Kanyakumari and will end in Srinagar and will be done entirely by walking on foot. Yatris are scheduled to cover a total of 23 kilometres everyday in 2 shifts. The march has covered more than 3,000 kilometres. There are several parallels between the Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and ex-prime minister of India Chandra Shekhar's nearly 4,260 kilometres-long Bharat Yatra in 1983.

Schedule

Methods

Slogans

The Bharat Jodo Yatra used a variety of slogans, poetry, and songs, such as 'Mile Kadam, Jude Vatan' (walk together, unite the country), ''Mehengai Se Nata Todo, Mil Kar Bharat Jodo'' (break ties with inflation, unite India), 'Berozagari Ka Jaal Todo, Bharat Jodo' (break the web of unemployment, unite India) and 'Samvidhan Bachao' (save the constitution) among others.

Debates

Padayatris used to speak with members of civil society every day during the break.

Public rally

Another method is public rallies. On October 15, Rahul Gandhi is spoke at a public gathering in Ballari as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is travelling through Karnataka.

Participants

Throughout the 5-month yatra, there will be three different types of Padyatris. Bharat Yatris will be the first to complete the journey on foot. Atithi Yatris from the states that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is not travelling through will be the second group. The third will be the Pradesh Yatris, those 100 yatris that the state is travelling through, so 300 padyatris will be moving forward at a given moment.

Supporters

Many grassroots movements have been joining or endorsing the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Congress has also appealed to citizens, organizations, and movements to join the Yatra. More than 200 civil society members have appealed people to support Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Indian National Congress has extended an invitation to Bihar chief minister and deputy chief minister Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav to join the yatra respectively.

As the march was set to enter Karnataka in late September, at least 89 organizations based in the state announced their support for and participation in it. Prominent participants in the Karnataka phase of the march include the author and intellectual, Devanur Mahadeva, and academic and literary critic G. N. Devy.

Timeline

Week 1 (7-13 September)

Rahul Gandhi launches the yatra at Kanyakumari after paying tributes to his late father Rajiv Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, and the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar on September 7. The Congress dubs the yatra as "India's biggest mass contact program" where the concerns of the people will reach Delhi.

Week 2 (14-20 September)

The yatra reached Kollam on 14 September, as Rahul Gandhi paid his respects to Sri Narayana Guru. He met local cashew workers there and promised to bring up their grievances in the upcoming parliamentary session. The yatra entered various cities such as Kollam, Alappuzha, and Kochi during this week.

Week 3 (21-27 September)

Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi in Kochi on 22 September. BJP leaders falsely alleged the break on 23 September in the yatra was in solidarity with the PFI. Hollywood actor John Cusack expressed his solidarity with Rahul Gandhi. A plea to regulate the Bharat Jodo Yatra was dismissed by Kerala High Court. Yatra entered Thrissur and Malappuram before entering Gudalur in Tamil Nadu on 29 September.

Last day of the yatra in Kerala on 28 September before it moves into Tamil Nadu and then Karnataka. It reached Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu the day after. On 30 September, it entered Karnataka with huge crowds. Police started cracking down on the PayCM campaign. Rahul Gandhi paid floral tribues to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi. He also targeted the BJP on its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Karnataka. Yatra took a break at Mandya on 4 October.

Week 5 (5-11 October)

Sonia Gandhi joined the yatra on 6 October, despite being unwell. Late journalist Gauri Lankesh's family joined Bharat Jodo Yatra as it completed 30 days on the road. The yatra received an impressive response from the local public in Tumakuru district. It reached Chitradurga district on 11 October.

Week 6 (11-17 October)

Rahul Gandhi met unemployed youth in Chitradurga district. The Congress stressed the importance of the Kannada language and regional languages like it. The yatra entered Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh on 14 October, getting a large crowd. It reentered Karnataka the day later, completing 1000 kilometres in Bellary district.

Week 7 (18-24 October)

The yatra reentered Andhra Pradesh via Kurnool district on October 18, before entering into Karnataka again on 21 October. The yatra entered Telangana on 23 October, followed by a 3-day Diwali break.

Week 8 (25-31 October)

The yatra resumed in Telangana on October 27 with massive crowds following the Diwali break. It passed through many major districts such as Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Sangareddy, and Ranga Reddy. On 29 October 2022, the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was joined by Tollywood actress Poonam Kaur during his walk towards Mahabubnagar district’s Jadcherla town.

Week 9 (1-7 November)

On 1 November 2022, Late Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's mother joined to walk in Bharat Jodo Yatra along with Rahul Gandhi, en route to Hyderabad. Rahul Gandhi unfurled the national flag in front of the Charminar, over 32 years after his father and then party chief Rajiv Gandhi had started the Sadbhavna Yatra from the same spot in 19 October 1990.

On 2 November 2022, actress and film maker Pooja Bhatt joined Rahul Gandhi in Bharat Jodo Yatra in Hyderabad on the 56th day of the yatra. On its 61st day, Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Maharashtra in evening of 7 November 2022. The yatra crossed from Menuru village of Madnoor Mandal in Jukkal constituency in Telangana to Nanded district in Maharashtra.

Week 10 (8-14 November)

On 10 November 2022, Bollywood actor Sushant Singh joined Bharat Jodo Yatra in Nanded, Maharashtra.

On 11 November 2022, Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Hingoli district. The Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its 65th day since its beginning in September this year and fifth day in Maharashtra.

Week 11 (15-21 November)

On 16 November 2022, activist Medha Patkar joined Bharat Jodo Yatra in Washim. On 17 November 2022, actress Riya Sen joined Bharat Jodo Yatra in Akola, Maharastra. Rahul Gandhi reiterated that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had helped the British. On 18 November 2022, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi and actress Mona Ambegaonkar joined Rahul during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Shegaon in Buldhana district. On the day of birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, actress Rashami Desai , Akanksha Puri and Nagma joined Bharat Jodo Yatra in Buldhana district on 19 November 2022. Actor Amol Palekar joined Bharat Jodo Yatra on its last day in Maharashtra in Jalgaon Jamod on 20 November 2022.

Week 12 (22-28 November)

On 24 November 2022, Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra joined Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi said in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh that the goal of the yatra was a march against the hatred, violence and fear that is being spread in India. During the meeting with banana plantations and powerloom workers, from Burhanpur region Gandhi opined about unemployment and farm issues. Former CM of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh underplayed the electoral impact of the yatra.

Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh stated that Bharat Jodo yatra is a way for the party to connect with the people. The response to the Bharat Jodo Yatra, has given Congress confidence to undertake similar Yatra from west to east next year. If the Yatra takes place the same will be in hybrid mode meaning the yatra will be on foot as well as, vehicles will be used for covering the difficult geographical terrain. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi described both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot as asset to the party. Bharat Jodo Yatra is now in the seventh state. The Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi stated that the Yatra has moved beyond Congress and has started echoing the voice of India.

Week 13 (29 November-5 December)

Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan on 4 December 2022, a Congress ruled state for the first time. Rahul Gandhi said that Bharat Jodo Yatra has taught him things that cannot be learnt while travelling in any mode of transport, be it an aeroplane, a helicopter or any other mode. Rahul Gandhi and his fellow travelers were given a warm welcome at Chanwli Chauraha about 40 kms from Jhalawar city in a traditional Rajasthani style. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath danced with tribal dancers.

Week 14 (6-12 December)

On 9 December 2022, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh informed that Bharat Jodo Yatra will take a nine-day break on December 25 and resume on January 3, 2023. The yatra is expected to reach Delhi by December 24 and maintenance work on the 60 containers will be done in Noida. On 11 December 2022, actress Digangana Suryavanshi joined Bharat Jodo Yatra in Bundi district.

Week 15 (13-19 December)

On 13 December 2022, Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed from Jeenapur in Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan. On 14 December 2022, Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan joined Bharat Jodo Yatra in Sawai Madhopur district.

Bharat Jodo yatra which started from Meena High Court in Dausa District completed 100 days on 16 December 2022 . Himanchal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Mukesh Agnihotri deputy CM, the Congress' chief of the state Pratibha Singh walked alongside Rahul Gandhi.The Padyatra has covered eight states in 100 days - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka,Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Issues of common man have been highlighted through the yatra , which is its biggest achievement. Singer Sunidhi Chauhan performed at a concert marking the completion of 100 days of Bharat Jodo Yatra, at Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur on 16 December 2022. On 19 December 2022, while addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Alwar, Rahul Gandhi highlighted the importance of English language and said that around 1,700 English medium schools have been opened in Rajasthan. He said that BJP leaders don't want English to be taught in schools. But children of all their leaders go to English medium schools.

Week 16 (20-26 December)

Former Punjab Chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi joined Bharat jodo yatra at Alwar in Rajasthan on 20 December. On 21 December 2022, Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Haryana from Mundaka border in Nuh district. Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed from Patan Udaipuri in Nuh, Haryana after the flag handover ceremony. On 23 December 2022, DMK MP Kanimozhi joined Bharat Jodo Yatra in Haryana. She said she was delighted to be a part of the foot march that celebrates India's diversity. On 24 December 2022, Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Delhi at Badarpur Border, after resuming Yatra from NHPC metro station. Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan ,who is an actor-turned politician joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra in New Delhi. During his speech at Red Fort, Hassan stated that he joined the foot march as an Indian and when it comes to country all party lines have to blurr. Rahul Gandhi said that he had not seen any hatred or violence among people while walking 2,800 km.

Reactions

National

* The Bharatiya Janata Party criticized the rally and called it "Parivar Bachao Rally" (''Save Family March''). These remarks came at a time when the Congress was preparing to hold its presidential election. On 18 September, BJP Tamil Nadu president C.T. Ravi posted a picture of Rahul Gandhi and his niece on Twitter with malicious intent, this led to Ravi deleting the tweet after public outrage and a case was filed against him. The Congress replied saying that the BJP was "rattled" by the yatra and its immense public support.
*The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam wholeheartedly supported the Yatra, with M.K. Stalin being present to launch the Yatra at Kanyakumari on September 7.
* The Nationalist Congress Party initially distanced itself from the yatra, with its leader P. C. Chacko saying that "Cong's yatra aimed to prove it is not dead". However, NCP chief Sharad Pawar backtracked on his party's remarks, dubbing the yatra "immensely useful" for the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Senior NCP leaders such as Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, and Jitendra Awhad joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra upon its entrance in the state of Maharashtra.
* The Shiv Sena (UBT) through its mouthpiece Saamana supported the Yatra and took a dig at the BJP, accusing it of being scared of the Congress' Yatra. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated that Rahul Gandhi is one person who keeps friendship and affection alive despite political differences. Raut attributed the tremendous response received by Bharat Jodo Yatra to love and compassion.
* The Aam Aadmi Party brushed-off the yatra, saying it is of "no consequence".
* The Communist Party of India (Marxist) initially criticized the Congress in a Twitter post for that read "18 days in Kerala...2 days in UP. Strange way to fight BJP-RSS", referring to the amount of days the yatra spent in each state. The Congress justified the decision saying Kerala is a long south-to-north state, "It takes 370 kilometres from Kanyakumari to go through Kerala and reach Karnataka. If it took two days of rest days, it would take 18 days to cover that distance". The CPI(M) soon softened its stance on the yatra, with its general secretary Sitaram Yechury saying "Every party has the legitimate right to interact with the populace. Going to people is good". He also said that the CPI(M) would join efforts to bring together the opposition parties to defend the constitution.
* Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India joined Bharat Jodo Yatra and described the Yatra as a Dakshinayana movement of India, where the influences of the South are carried to the North.
* The Hindu-nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's chief Mohan Bhagawat reached out to minorities in the country, shortly after the start of the yatra. This sudden outreach was seen by the Congress party as an effect and success of the yatra.

International

* In September 2022, Hollywood actor John Cusack extended his support to Bharat Jodo Yatra and said he stands in solidarity with "anti-fascists everywhere".

Controversies

The Bharat Jodo Yatra has been criticized for not passing through the poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh defended the decision, stating that the reason behind it was that it would take 90–95 days to reach Gujarat, starting from Kanyakumari, "It would be impossible to reach before the elections, same with Himachal Pradesh". He also added that in the states where the Yatra would not be able to pass, he and another senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, along with many others will visit them.

In Kollam, 3 Congress workers demanded a donation of Rs 2000 from a street vendor, to which he gave Rs 500. The workers then damaged the vendor's weighing machine and vegetables. The workers were immediately suspended from the Congress party after the ruckus. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief K. Sudhakaran expressed regret over the incident, calling it "unacceptable" and "inexcusable".

Fake news

Many fake news and allegations have been spread on the yatra, some of them are listed below:

On 23 September, the Congress paused the yatra at Thrissur for a rest day, which was apparently the day when the Popular Front of India (PFI), an Islamist organisation gave a "bandh" call in Kerala, in response to the National Investigation Agency (NIA)'s raids on it the day before. BJP leader Kapil Mishra linked this pause of the yatra to the bandh and alleged that the Congress was in solidarity with the PFI. The Congress hit back, saying that the pause was pre-scheduled and completely unrelated to the PFI. Rahul Gandhi also said that there should be zero tolerance towards all forms of communalism, in response to a journalist asking him about his comments on the raid on the PFI.

A factually incorrect tweet started circulating by BJP leaders on around 23 September which alleged the girl who hugged Rahul Gandhi in a picture from the yatra was the same girl who raised the slogan "Pakistan Zindabad" at an anti-CAA rally led by AIMIM in Bengaluru, this turned out to be false. On 25 September, the Indian National Congress initiated legal action against BJP leader Priti Gandhi for allegedly spreading "fake and divisive news" on the yatra.

On 7 December, Congress handles on Twitter falsely started circulating images of a crowd organized at the Jai Gurudev Ashram in Mathura passing them off as turnout at the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Resistance

The Congress and the BJP got into an argument after hoardings welcoming Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra were ripped down in Gundlupet, Karnataka, on September 29, 2022. On the Congress Bharat Jodo Yatra track, there was a poster with Savarkar on it. Congress attributed the problem on "miscreants." Savarkar's image was previously seen on a Bharat Jodo Yatra poster in Kerala.

Protests

In the midst of the Karnataka leg of the yatra, the Congress ran into a few problems. Following the appearance of Rahul Gandhi's image on the Karnataka flag, pro-Kannada have protested against the same, and warned the Congress not to use Gandhi's image on the flag.

Farmers protested during the Rajasthan leg of Yatra complaining against Congress govt of Rajasthan for failing to deliver on Rahul Gandhi's promise of farm loan waiver during election campaign. They also complained about water scarcity.

Petitions in High Court

Division Bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed a public interest lawsuit that sought to control the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, which the petitioner said was impeding both vehicular and pedestrian traffic on public streets.

Impact

Rahul Gandhi reopened a road that had been closed in 1993 due to caste-based violence on the fourth day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. In Badanavalu, a route called Bharat Jodo Road connects Lingayat settlements with Dalit dwellings. According to officials, Rajasthan's Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday, October 7, 2022 officially opened a 2.8-kilometer elevated road in Jaipur.
According to them, the chief minister renamed the route, which was formerly known as Sodala elevated road, to "Bharat Jodo Setu."

Other planned yatras

The Indian National Congress, inspired by the success of the current yatra, started or planned separate, but related yatras in other states. They are listed below:

The Indian National Congress said that it planned to do a second phase of the yatra from west-to-east next year, from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh. Congress plans to take out another march next year from Porbandar in Gujarat to Parshuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh.

On 22 September, the Congress started a similar yatra in Gujarat which they called "Yuva Parivartan Yatra" (Youth for Change Yatra) in Gujarat from Ambaji, which will be going through several towns and cities. It included many GPCC and Gujarat Youth Congress leaders. It will pass 27 districts. It will be held in two stages from Ambaji to Umargam and Somanth to Suigam. The yatra will travel more than 2100 kilometres across the state.

On November 1, the Congress started an Assam version of the yatra from Dhubri to Sadiya. The yatra will cover around 850 kilometres across the state. It also did the same in Odisha, where the state version of the yatra will cover 2,400 kms for 100 days, starting from 31 October, as a show of strength for the Congress. The rally will start from Bhubaneshwar and will cover cities like Cuttack, Jajpur, Balasore, and many more. Many Congress party state units will also start mass contact programs.

Former chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, and KPCC president DK Shivakumar, are organising a new yatra beginning in the first week of December that will visit all 224 assembly constituencies in an effort to maintain the momentum started by the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra until the 2023 Assembly elections.

Responses

Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, and BJP stalwart BS Yediyurappa launched a "Jana Sankalpa Yatra" on 11 October 2022 which would cover 52 assembly constituencies as a political response to the Congress' "Bharat Jodo Yatra" led by Rahul Gandhi.

The BJP started its "Jan Aakrosh Yatra" in Rajasthan on December 1, as a protest against the Ashok Gehlot government in the state. However, turnout for the event was dismal and received low public support and the BJP high command expressed its displeasure with the issue.

References

External links

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