Srinagar: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide India Unity Yatra concluded yesterday in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the purpose of the pilgrimage was to protect the country’s liberal and secular values.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi started the India Unity Yatra (‘Bharat Jodo Yatrai’) on September 7, 2022 in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district as part of his nationwide walking tour. This padayatra started in Tamil Nadu and passed through various states like Kerala, Karnataka, Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and was held in Jammu and Kashmir.
The foot pilgrimage, covering a distance of more than 3,800 km in a total of 137 days, ended yesterday in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. At the end of the yatra, a grand public gathering was held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Ground there. Rahul Gandhi said:
During the 137-day pilgrimage across the country, I got the opportunity to meet and talk with the people of various states. Talked to them and heard their grievances.
I am not undertaking this pilgrimage for myself, for the Congress party, or for the development of the party. I undertook the pilgrimage with the aim of enriching the lives of the people of the country.
Our aim is to stand against the ideology that wants to destroy the foundation of this country. Bharat Jodo Yatra aims to preserve the liberal and secular values of India.
When my grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi were assassinated, they told me that information over the phone. The people of Kashmir understand the pain of receiving such a cell phone call.
The families of soldiers who protect the country know the pain. The family of the CRPF soldier killed in the Pulwama attack will understand that. Those who instigate violence will never understand that pain. PM Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah, BJP, RSS etc., who incite hatred will never understand that pain.
The aim of this Yatra is to ensure that the painful incident of notifying the death of a loved one through a phone call, be it an Army soldier, a CRPF soldier or any Kashmiri, should never happen again.
I am sure that no BJP leader can behave like me in Jammu and Kashmir. They never do that. Not that they won’t be allowed to walk this way. The truth is they are afraid.
Thus he spoke.
Congress National President Mallikarjuna Kharge, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and senior leaders were present. It is noteworthy that during this yatra which took place in 12 states and 2 union territories, Rahul interacted with people at 400 places and spoke in 12 public meetings.
