The Congress will launch its 'Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra' on September 7, 2022, with the party claiming that this would be the country's single largest political yatra in which more than 3500 km will be covered in about 150 days. Former party president Rahul Gandhi along with other party leaders and workers will participate in the padayatra.
The announcement of the yatra coincided with the anniversary of the 'Bharat Chhodo' movement, with the party making an apparent effort to connect the upcoming initiative with the party-led Quit India movement.
“On this day 80 years ago, the Indian National Congress under the leadership and inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi launched the 'Bharat Chhodo' movement that won our country freedom five years later. Today the Indian National Congress announces the launch of its Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 7 2022,” AICC General Secretary in charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh said in a statement.
The padayatra will cover 12 states and two union territories. It will be about 3500 km long and will be completed in about 150 days, Ramesh said. He said the party appeals to all “wanting to be part of a gigantic national endeavour to provide an alternative to the politics of fear, bigotry and prejudice and the economics of livelihood destruction, increasing unemployment and growing inequalities to participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”
The yatra will culminate on January 30, coinciding with the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom. But party sources said it could end a week later also.
According to party sources, the yatra will cover 68 parliamentary constituencies and 203 Assembly seats. Among the states that will be covered are Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir. Curiously, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, which go to the polls later this year, are not included in the list.
A decision to hold the Bharat Jodo Yatra had been taken at the party's Udaipur Chintan Shivir held in May. The original plan was to begin the yatra on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. However, it was felt that the yatra should be advanced to maintain the momentum created by the party's recent protests inside and outside Parliament. It was felt that the issues raised, such as price rise, unemployment and imposition of Goods and Services Tax on essential food items are important and the party need not wait till October to take them up. It was also clarified by the sources that it will be a padayatra in its entirety and will be continuous.
A senior leader said the initiative will be a huge experiment for the Congress since it is for the first time that the party is holding a multi-state yatra. He said it will entail huge planning. State and district coordinators for the yatra have already been appointed.
