The Congress party has announced that the prospect of a "Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0" is currently under consideration, with certain members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) suggesting that the yatra should span from the eastern to the western parts of the nation. Speaking during a briefing on the first meeting of the reconstituted CWC in Hyderabad, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram disclosed that members of the party's apex decision-making body have proposed a Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0, this time traversing from east to west.
In response to queries regarding the second edition of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Chidambaram stated, "There have been requests by members of the Congress Working Committee that we should have a Bharat Jodo Yatra 2 from the east to the west. That matter is under consideration", news agency ANI reported.
Elaborating on the deliberations within the Congress Working Committee, Chidambaram remarked, "The CWC is currently reviewing a draft resolution. Deliberations are still in progress. We are engaged in discussions concerning the state of affairs in the country. These discussions encompass the political landscape, the economic challenges facing the nation, and the internal and external security threats that pose significant challenges to the country."
On the political scenario under the Modi government, he asserted, "We believe that the Constitutional and federal structure of the nation is under duress. Federalism is undergoing systematic erosion, state governments are encountering impediments, and their revenues have been either denied or reduced. Furthermore, obstacles are being placed in the path of state governments in fulfilling their responsibilities."
In response to the proposal for 'One Nation, One Election,' the former union minister termed the concept as "an assault on the Constitution and an affront to federalism."
"Implementing it would necessitate at least five Constitutional amendments, a task that the BJP, by its own admission, does not possess the requisite parliamentary strength to achieve. However, the BJP's persistent promotion of this concept appears to be a diversionary tactic, designed to divert attention from pressing issues and construct a false narrative," he said, as per ANI.
Chidambaram also lamented the BJP governments' handling of the Manipur violence saying, "Since May 5th, Manipur has been in turmoil. Astonishingly, the Prime Minister has found time for visits to numerous countries, including a quick appearance at the ASEAN Summit and a return for the G20 summit. However, it is deeply disappointing that he has not allocated two hours of his schedule to visit Manipur. With the exception of a brief two-minute mention of Manipur just before the commencement of the parliamentary session, there has been no substantial communication regarding Manipur."
Congress Party's Bharat Jodo Yatra
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi undertook the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a journey that spanned from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, lasting from September 7, 2022, to January 30, 2023. The 136-day march encompassed 4,081 kilometers, traversing 12 states, two Union territories, 75 districts, and 76 Lok Sabha constituencies, leaving an enduring impact on the public psyche.
Throughout the course of the yatra, Rahul Gandhi engaged in 12 public meetings, over 100 street-corner meetings, and 13 press conferences. He conducted more than 275 planned walking interactions and over 100 sitting interactions.
The yatra witnessed participation from diverse sections of society, including prominent film and television celebrities such as Kamal Haasan, Pooja Bhatt, Riya Sen, Swara Bhasker, Rashami Desai, Akanksha Puri, and Amol Palekar.
Additionally, renowned writers and military veterans, including former Army chief Gen (Retd) Deepak Kapoor and ex-Navy chief Admiral (Retd) L Ramdas, as well as eminent personalities such as former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and ex-finance secretary Arvind Mayaram, also joined the yatra.
Notably, opposition leaders like National Conference's Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, Shiv Sena's Aaditya Thackeray, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Sanjay Raut, along with NCP's Supriya Sule, walked alongside Rahul Gandhi at various junctures during the journey.