The Congress on Sunday said that Bharat Jodo Yatra has been successful beyond expectations. The grand old party, in a press conference, said that the Yatra has successfully achieved its objective of raising people’s issues. It said that going forward the party will ensure that the government is held accountable.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar said, "When it started, there were a lot of questions about whether people would come or not or whether we will be able to cover 25 km every day. The last 60 days have passed in a jiffy now."
"Yatris have gone beyond physical pain. The yatra has achieved its first objective. Yatris have become comfortable with the yatra, the yatra has become comfortable with the country and the country has become comfortable with yatra," said Kumar. He added, "Yatra has achieved its first objective and people know that it is being undertaken to highlight their issues."
"It has to now move towards its second objective which is to make the government of the day accountable on issues of the people and country," Kumar said.
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Talking about the effect of the Yatra on Rahul Gandhi’s image, Kanhaiya said, "So much had been said about Rahul Gandhi. Reporters ask if his image will improve, I would say his reality will be before the people of the country." "All the things that were said about Rahul Gandhi that he is not serious, will go abroad, will not walk, will go on a vacation, will not stay in a container, all that has ended. Crores were spent to malign his image, but his reality has been brought out just by walking on the road," Kumar said.
Empahsising on the identity of Rahul Gandhi, Kanhaiya said that all these untruths created about him "have been demolished" and proved baseless and his "reality" is now visible to the people.
He said price rise and unemployment were the two main common issues that came up in feedback from people during the Yatra. He said the issue of protecting federalism was also raised in southern states and the sentiment was that the Centre is not doing justice.
Reacting to PM Modi’s statement that he receives "2-3 kg" of abuse every day, Kanhaiya said that those spreading hatred are also playing the "victim card."
The Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress took a one-day break in Maharashtra on Sunday and will proceed from Kalamnuri in the Hingoli district to Washim on Monday.
While addressing a public gathering in Kalamnuri on Saturday night, the sixth day of the Yatra in Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi said the message of the foot march led by him was that India cannot be divided and hatred would not be allowed to be spread.
The Yatra, which has covered half of its total distance of 3,750 km, entered Maharashtra from neighboring Telangana on November 7 night and passed through Nanded and Hingoli districts in the western state.
(With inputs from PTI)