Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' commenced on Friday from Nabagram in West Bengal's Murshidabad after the district administration ordered the party to postpone it due to the class 10 state board exams, according to senior politician Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, news agency PTI reported. The Yatra, which was supposed to continue at 8 a.m. from Gokarna in Murshidabad, began at 10:30 a.m. from Nabagram. Chowdhury, the Baharampur MP, stated that permission to hold the Yatra was denied in the adjoining Birbhum district, through which it will cross to enter Pakur in Jharkhand later in the day.
He stated that permission to host a roadshow in Murshidabad district was not obtained due to the start of the West Bengal secondary school board's class 10 examination throughout the state.
Speaking with media, Chowdhury stated:
"I do not understand what is the problem if we peacefully conduct our Yatra after the examinees enter the centres," Chowdhury was quoted as saying by PTI in its report.
The Yatra began with only a few cars, with Gandhi riding a red SUV from Nabagram in the same district.
The Baharampur MP stated that no loudspeakers will be used during the Yatra.
He stated: “According to the government’s instructions, students need to come to school at 8:30 am and the exam will take place from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. We don’t use mikes and drums. This (Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra) is a very peaceful yatra. So, at the time when we will start our yatra, all the students will already be inside the exam halls."
Chowdhury stated that the Congress will not engage in conflict with the administration.
"We only want to see off Rahul Gandhi from West Bengal peacefully," he added.