Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra 2024 News Live: A few months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on Sunday started his ambitious east-to-west 6,713 km rally, which the party has named as ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’. The 6,713-km Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai will cover 100 Lok Sabha constituencies in 15 states, 110 districts in 67 days. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will culminate in Mumbai on March 20. The Yatra will mostly be via bus rides, and also ‘pad yatra’ (foot march). The rally was flagged off from Khomjom in Thoubal district of Manipur. Earlier, the flagging off was scheduled from Imphal East, however, after the district administration gave conditional permission, the Congress decided to launch the Yatra from a private ground in Khonjom, and not from the historic Palace Grounds in Imphal.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pays floral tribute at the Khongjom War Memorial, a site commemorating the warriors of the Anglo-Manipuri War.
"We understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through. We understand the hurt, loss, sadness that you have been through. And we promise and commit to you that we will bring back, what you valued, bring back the harmony, peace and affection that this state has alway been known for.
Question arises, why 'Nyay Yatra'?
"We are going through great injustices in India - social, political and financial. Economically, monopolies are being built, few people are getting access to all the wealth of the country...and the large majority of small businesses are being destroyed. Unemployment and price rise are being faced...the lower castes simply do not have a say in the government's policies...These are the issues the BJNY is going to raise," he says.
"During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, we walked for over 4,000 km, and we spoke about uniting the country and spoke "love over hatred," says Rahul Gandhi.
"Like we did for south-to-north, we also did a east-to-west Yatra as elections are near. So, we decided to do a "hybrid" Yatra, through bus rides and 'pad yatra'," he adds.
"Rahul Gandhi has come to visit the people of Manipur, but did Modi come? He can be seen on the beaches of Lakshadweep...Let him do when he does...But Rahul Gandhi will continue his fight for the people of Manipur," Kharge says.
"We always want non-violence, peace...Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal got statehoods during Congress' tenure...All projects, including railways, are all in the Congress' regime," he says.
"After the Modi government came to power, there has been no development, there's only publicity," Kharge adds.
Mallikarjun Kharge says, "In Manipur, Modi comes to ask for votes, but when people here are in trouble, PM Modi turns his back. He is seen in Lakshadweep, he is seen for Ram Temple."
"You must be religious, but not for votes. Fight, but for ideals. We fight for secularism, equality, social justice, to save our Constitution, Kharge says.
"They are mixing religion with politics, and instigating people," he adds.
"When Pandit Nehru first visited Manipur, he described Manipur as the "jewel of India", the same words were said by former PMs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi," says Kharge.
"It is these Congress leaders who gave statehood to Manipur. The state is a land which has fought for Independence...The people of Manipur are brave and have always worked for the unity of the country," he adds.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hands over the national flag to Rahul Gandhi in Thoubal district of Manipur. The over 6,000 km rally will begin in sometime.
The Congress party has said that it is holding the Yatra for economic, political and social justice.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visits Khongjom War Memorial in Thouba, Manipur.
"The BJP tried every dirty trick to stall the launch of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur, including denying permission to hold the opening rally at the Palace grounds in Imphal. Yet much before the start of the rally, the Nyay Maidan in Khongjom is at full capacity!," writes Jairam Ramesh.
https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1746449505674031150
On Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra', BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill says, "Nyay Yatra is just a gimmick to keep Rahul Gandhi busy. The true objective, true DNA of this Yatra is 'Bharat Badnam Karo Yatra'."
"The 6700+ km Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Khongjom in Manipur to Mumbai in Maharashtra starts today — to raise our voice for economic justice, social justice and political justice, to raise our voice against the ANYAY KAAL of the last 10 years.
The Prime Minister has refused to speak a word or visit Manipur for more than 8 months since violence erupted here.
Does the Prime Minister not consider Manipur to be a part of India?
Does the Prime Minister not respect the contribution of Manipuris to India?
The Yatra will raise the issue of Nyay for Manipur.
It is only appropriate that Rahul Gandhi will be starting the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra with a floral tribute at the Khongjom War memorial — symbolising the sacrifice of the Manipuris in the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri War," Jairam Ramesh writes on X.
Watch: Rahul Gandhi gets a warm welcome upon his arrival in Imphal.
All Congress leaders have reached Imphal. Rahul Gandhi has also arrived in Imphal. The party will flag off the Yatra from Thoubal district of Manipur, around 33 km from Imphal.
Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who is suspended by BSP, reaches Manipur to participate in Yatra. He says, " Decided to join Cong yatra as I feel I will be failing in my duty as politician if I didn't join biggest drive for unity, justice." (PTI)
States the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will be covering - Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, UP, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Yatra will conclude in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the Yatra was to strengthen Congress. "This Yatra from Manipur is a continuation of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and is derived from the first line of the Constitution which assures to all people of India justice.
"There are four pillars to the Preamble: justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Now much of the Yatra had to do with liberty, equality and fraternity but now we are focusing on the first pillar which is mentioned in the first line of the Preamble- justice, economic, social and political," the Congress general secretary said.
"So the main focus of this yatra is to take the Bharat Jodo Yatra forward with a focus on highlighting the last ten years which were not 'amrit kaal' but 'anyay kaal' and what is the Congress' vision of ensuring political justice, economic justice and social justice," he said. (PTI)
The Yatra was scheduled to start from 12 PM. However, the special IndiGo flight, all Congress leaders were onboard, was delayed due to fog and poor visibility conditions at Delhi Airport on Sunday morning. The Congress leaders had to wait at the airport lounge.
The 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra' will start with a floral tribute at the Khongjom War Memorial, followed by its launch at Myay Maidan, Khongjom in Manipur's Thoubal.
After Uttar Pradesh, the Yatra will pass through the most number of Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal and Maharashtra, with 10 seats each.
In West Bengal, the Yatra will pass through Cooch Behar, Alipurduars, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Malda Uttar, Malda Dakshin, Jangipur, Murshidabad, Baharampur and Birbhum.
In Maharashtra, it will pass through Nandurbar, Dindori, Dhule, Nashik, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Thane, Mumbai-North Central, Mumbai North East, Mumbai South-Central.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is going to be for 11 days in Uttar Pradesh. Among the high-profile constituencies covered in the Yatra will be - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi, BJP leader Smriti Irani's constituency Amethi, Rae Bareli, which is the constituency of Sonia Gandhi.
Along with Rahul Gandhi, several Congress leaders, including Salman Khurshid, Karti Chidambaram, Pawan Khera, Ashok Gehlot are going to join in Manipur. YS Sharmila is also seen in the flight to Manipur.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay will spend eight days in Assam. It will cover 17 districts, beginning Sivasagar district from January 18. A distance of 833 km will be covered.
Gandhi will address two public gatherings - Amguri in Sivasagar district and Gibbon forest area at Mariani in Jorhat on day 1.
Rahul Gandhi arrives at Delhi airport. He will begin the Bharat Nyay Yatra from Manipur.
The Congress Party has released a "Nyay anthem" with the tagline "Saho Mat, Daro Mat (do not suffer, do not be scared)"
Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh asserts that this is not a political Yatra, but an "ideological one".
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra's Day 1 itinerary -
12 PM: Floral tribute at the Khogjom war memorial in Thoubal.
12.20 PM: Launch of Yatra from Nyay Maidam, Khongjom
2:30 PM: Yatra commences at Nyay Maidan
5:30 PM: Evening break at Koirengei Bazaar, Imphal
Night Halt at Koujengleima Sports Association Football Ground, Sekmai, Imphal