'People gave me love, not hand grenade ': Rahul concludes Bharat Jodo Yatra on an emotional note

Amidst the steady snowfall, wearing a grey pheran and a cap, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday addressed a rally in Srinagar, wrapping up his Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra on an emotional note. His speech, 35 minutes long in inclement conditions, had him talking about walking through the valley despite security threats and how walking up to Jammu and Kashmir, the land of his ancestors, felt like a homecoming.

The rally, held at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium, marking the conclusion of the 135-day-long Bharat Jodo Yatra, coincided with M.K. Gandhi's martyrdom. Rahul Gandhi aptly spoke about walking in Kashmir for four days despite the perception of security threats. He said he felt that he should give an opportunity to those who hate him to “change the colour of my (white) T-shirt to red”.

He said he did not listen to the advice of party leaders like K.C. Venugopal and the security officers, and added that he believes in the philosophy of M.K. Gandhi and the value system of his family about being fearless.

Rahul Gandhi said as the yatra approached Kashmir, he was advised by the security officials to travel in a vehicle instead of walking. He recalled that it was Venugopal who first informed him about this and the administration too felt walking was not advisable in Kashmir as a hand grenade could be lobbed at him. "I thought I am going home and I will be walking in the midst of my people. I thought why shouldn’t I give an opportunity to those who hate me to change the colour of my T-shirt to red. I gave the opportunity to those who wanted to change the colour of my T-shirt,” he said.

"The people of Kashmir did not throw a hand grenade. But they showered me with love. I am happy that you consider me one of you."

Rahul Gandhi described his journey to the valley as a sort of homecoming. He said it felt like he was doing a journey that was in reverse to the one undertaken by his forefathers centuries ago as they walked down to Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.

He said he had lived in government accommodation all his life and never felt that it was his home. "Home is a thought, a way of life and what you call Kashmiriyat is my home, which has the elements of Lord Shiva’s philosophy and Islamic teachings."

He said the yatra was not for himself or for the Congress party but to take a stand against an ideology that wants to destroy the foundation of the country.

The Congress leader recalled the moments when he was informed about the assassination of his grandmother and father and said those who incite violence never understand the pain of those who suffer because of it. "Those who incite violence – like Modiji, Amit Shahji, the BJP and the RSS – will never understand this pain. The family of an Army man will understand, the family of the CRPF personnel who were killed in Pulwama will understand, Kashmiris will understand that pain when one gets that call," he said.

He said the aim of the yatra is to end the phone calls announcing the deaths of loved ones, "be it a soldier, a CRPF jawan or any Kashmiri."

Rahul Gandhi also challenged the BJP leadership to undertake a yatra like his in Jammu and Kashmir and said they will never do it as they are scared. "I can guarantee you that no BJP leader can walk like this in Jammu and Kashmir. They will not do it, not because they won't be allowed to, but because they are scared."

The yatra, which began on September 7, journeyed through 12 states and two Union territories and covered 3,970 km.