Sapra was flanked by JKPCCo Woking president Sh.Raman Bhalla ji, Gen Secretary Yogesh Sahawney. 

Jehanzeb Sirwal and Bilal Rashid were also present . 

While Adressing the Media Sapra

 Q: Why is the Bharat Jodo Yatra necessary?

? You will find the answer to this question if you look around the country today.

? The Yatra is launched to unite all Indians against three major problems - economic inequalities, social division and political over-centralization. 

? Economically, the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer.

 

? Common people are distressed by sky-rocketing inflation and unemployment.

? Kisans and Khet mazdoors are being buried under a burden of debt.

? The assets of our country, built over 70 years, are being sold to a few crony capitalists at a huge loss

 

? Socially, today we are being divided on the basis of caste, religion, region, language, food, dress.

 

? Every day a new conspiracy is hatched to make one Indian fight another.

? People are scared. There is a growing sense of insecurity, especially among women. 

 

? Politically, today the voices of people are being suppressed and our Constitutional rights are being crushed.

? Efforts are being made in a systematic manner to subvert our Constitution, dismantle our institutions, hollow out our democracy, and destroy our unity and fraternity.

? State governments of opposition parties, elected by the people, are being brought down by money power and misusing agencies.

? The voice of the states is being suppressed; they are not getting the tax money owed to them by the Union government on time.

? Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes are being deprived of their basic rights—jal, jangal and zameen. 

? We can tackle these challenges only through unity - by coming together, holding hands and pledging to come together

Objectives expected from the Yatra

 

There are four key objectives of the Yatra:

1. Creating unity amongst all like-minded Indians who stand for the values of our freedom movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, reflected in the Constitution

2. Raising the voices of crores of Indians who are deeply affected by economic inequalities, social division and political over-centralization.

3. Discussing ideas and solutions which people have to emerge from the current situation  

4. Strengthening social harmony along the principles of ‘Unity in Diversity’ and ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava’.

 

*Brief details of the Yatra route*

 

? Starts on 7th September from Kanyakumari, and goes till Jammu and Kashmir

? Covers 12 states and 2 UTS: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

? The route of over 3,500 km will take about 150 days to cover

 

*Preparations done so far*

? Yatris: 118 Bharat Yatris from all across the country who will walk from Kashmir to Kanyakumari have been selected. In addition, Pradesh Congress Committees are shortlisting 100 Pradesh Yatris from the states through which the Yatra passes, and Atithi Yatris from all other States.

 

? Schedule: A detailed schedule for the Yatra is being worked out. We will endeavour to regularly update the route and public events of the Yatra on our website www.bharatjodoyatra.in at least three days in advance

 

? Logistics: Preparations for food and stay of the Yatris are nearly complete. While core yatris will stay in containers, Pradesh yatris will stay in arrangements made by PCCs.

 

? Bharat Jodo Yatra at state level: Every state through which the Yatra does not pass is organizing a door-to-door campaign to reach every to communicate the message of the Yatra

Details of participation

People from all states, communities, religions, occupations will participate in the Yatra, making it a showcase of the unity and diversity of our country.

? At any point of time, there will be 300 core yatris. In the morning stretch, there will be no mass mobilisation from the party. In the second half, thousands of others will walk with the Yatra.

? All are welcome to participate in the Yatra - whether you can physically join or not. Please register on our website www.bharatjodoyatra.in - nearly 40,000 people have already done so

 

? We are working out a detailed programme by which people who are interested can participate either by walking with the main Bharat Jodo Yatra, by joining the state-level Bharat Jodo Yatra, or by participating online.

Programmes on the 7th and 8th

 

In Tamil Nadu, the programme is as below:

? In the morning around 7:00 AM, in Sriperumbudur, Shri Rahul Gandhi will pay homage to the memorial of former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

? Between 3 PM in the afternoon to 4 PM, Shri Rahul Gandhi will visit and pay respects at the Thiruvalluvar Memorial, the Vivekananda memorial and the Kamaraj Memorial

? At around 4PM, a prayer meeting will be organized at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam. After this meeting there will be a National Flag handover ceremony at Gandhi Mandapam

 

? Shri Rahul Gandhi and the Bharat Jodo Yatris will then march from Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam to Beach Road

 

? From 5:00- 6:30 PM on Beach Road there will be a public meeting to formally launch the Bharat Jodo Yatra

 

? The next day on the 8th, the Padayatra will commence at 7 AM from Vivekananda Institute of polytechnic ground, Agasteeswaram, Kanyakumari

There will be participation of Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu and all across the country, as well as some other political parties and civil society organizations.

In all other states:

? Events to simultaneously launch the Bharat Jodo Yatra will be held at 5 pm on the 7th at state capitals, district and block HQs.

? On the 8th, padayatras will be taken out from state capitals and other major cities to mark the beginning of the Padayatra

Tentative daily schedule

Every day, the Yatra is likely to follow the below schedule:

? Morning stretch: Start by about 7 am with a prayer, and cover 15 km

? Break till 4 pm, including lunch. There will be some interactions with visitors during this time

? 10 km stretch in the evening

? End at 7, 7:30 p.m.

? There will be events in Yatra choupal at the end of the day – optional to attend for Yatris.

? Dinner and rest in camp

? Periodic events – e.g. tree planting, cultural events, visits to key places on the way

Similar PC was held in Srinagar Party Office. Senior Congress Leader and AICC Spokesperson Meem Afzal Ex. MP addressed. 

 

He was fanked by Senior leaders G. N. Monga and Mohd Anwar Bhat. 

Afzal elaborated the significance of Bharat Jodo Yatra and expressed confidence that it will be very successful. (KNS)