Seeking to involve the civil society in its ambitious Bharat Jodo Yatra scheduled to begin on September 7, the Congress will, on August 22, hold a meeting with representatives of non-governmental organisations, intellectuals and writers with regard to the Padayatra.
The Congress will hold a meeting with around 150 civil society representatives at the Constitution Club in the national capital, and former party president Rahul Gandhi will be part of the interface, a senior party leader said.
The meeting will begin with a presentation by senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, who is in charge of the organising committee of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, on the purpose and the plan behind the Padayatra. According to the leader quoted above, the meeting is an initiative of activist Yogendra Yadav, and the interaction will aim to discuss in what manner the civilians can take part in the Kanyakumari to Kashmir Yatra.
On September 23, the party will launch the logo, slogan and website dedicated to the Yatra. 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. Around 150 leaders of the Congress, including Rahul, will form the core of the Padayatra and will take part in it throughout its course and state unit leaders will join in.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is unlikely to be present at the launch of the Padayatra on September 7 owing to health reasons. She is suffering from COVID-19 and is in isolation. This is the second time that she has contracted the viral ailment in two months.
The Yatra is expected to last for around 15-20 days each in states such as Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Other states will be covered in around three to five days.
