The Congress party on Saturday hailed the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, describing it as a “massive booster dose” for the party and a historic mass movement that united society.
On the second anniversary of the Bharat Jodo Yatra’s launch, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said the yatra demonstrated that Indians are inherently loving people. “Today our mission remains to ensure that the voice of love is heard in every corner of the country,” he added.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge noted that the distance covered on foot by Gandhi and the Bharat Jodo Yatris from Kanyakumari to Kashmir stirred an unprecedented public consciousness of love, mutual harmony, and brotherhood among millions. “On the occasion of the second anniversary of Bharat Jodo Yatra, I only appeal to the people of the country to continue the struggle to preserve the Constitution and democracy,” Kharge said in a post on X.
He further noted that the struggle continues against pressing issues like economic inequality, inflation, unemployment, social injustice, the erosion of the Constitution, and the centralisation of power.
Kharge emphasised the need for a strong commitment to constitutional values of justice, freedom, equality, and brotherhood. “We will not let the agenda of hatred and division succeed. The victory of love and humanity is certain. The Congress Party will not stop, it will not pause. The voice of Mother India is our voice,” he said.
Posting a video montage of the yatra on X, Gandhi said, “The Bharat Jodo Yatra taught me the beauty of silence. In the midst of cheering crowds and slogans, I discovered the power to tune out the noise and focus entirely on the person next to me — to truly listen.”
“In those 145 days, and the two years since, I’ve listened to thousands of Indians from diverse backgrounds. Each voice has carried wisdom, teaching me something new, and each has represented our beloved Bharat Mata,” the former Congress chief added.
“Today is the 2nd anniversary of the start of the truly transformational Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra. Over 200 Bharat Yatris led by Rahul GandhThe yatra proved that Indians are inherently loving people, he said.
“When I started this journey I said love will conquer hate and hope will defeat fear, today our mission remains the same — to ensure the voice of Bharat Mata, the voice of love is heard in every corner of our beloved country,” Gandhi said, using the hashtag #BharatJudneTak.
Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra: Kanyakumari to Kashmir
Gandhi launched the yatra from Kanyakumari on September 7, 2022, and concluded the ambitious 145-day journey in Srinagar on January 30, 2023.
Throughout the march, Gandhi addressed 12 public meetings, over 100 street corner meetings, and 13 press conferences. He engaged in more than 275 planned walking interactions and over 100 sitting interactions.
The yatra attracted a diverse array of participants, including film and TV celebrities like Kamal Haasan, Pooja Bhatt, Riya Sen, Swara Bhasker, Rashami Desai, Akanksha Puri, and Amol Palekar. It also saw contributions from writers, military veterans such as former Army Chief Gen (Retd) Deepak Kapoor and ex-Navy Chief Admiral (Retd) L Ramdas, as well as notable figures like former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and ex-Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram.
Opposition leaders including National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Sanjay Raut, and Nationalist Congress Party’s Supriya Sule also joined Gandhi at various points during the march.