12 days of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Madhya Pradesh

• Suresh Pachouri

‘Padyatras’ (Foot marches) have a long history in Indian politics. During the freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi had taken out the Dandi March against the British and had launched a mass movement against the anti-people policies of the British rule. After independence, Vinoba Bhave did Bhoodan Yatra. There have been many other ‘padyatras’ (marches) in politics. Public awareness is awakened by these marches, which is a precursor to the strengthening of democracy.

The BJP formed the government with populist slogans and promises like bringing ‘Achhe Din’ in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, bringing back black money from abroad, providing jobs to 2 crore youth every year, ending inflation and corruption, doubling the income of farmers, but there is deep frustration and despair prevailing in the whole country due to no work being done in the said direction. This is a betrayal of the mandate.

Due to the wrong economic policies of the central government, the country’s economy has collapsed. Due to decisions like demonetisation and imposition of GST without preparation, small and medium scale industries have been ruined; which has resulted in lakhs of people becoming unemployed. The value of rupee is continuously falling and the country’s property worth billions is being handed over to private hands at throwaway prices.

On the 75th Anniversary of independence, the Congress organized a ‘Navsankalp Shivir’ in Udaipur to reflect on the current situation in the country. Realizing its responsibility towards the nation in this shivir, the Congress Party decided to launch a public awareness campaign against the economic, social and political issues dividing the country.

Thoughtful, resolute and energetic Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi had been studying these situations which worried him. Shri Rahul Gandhi resolved to create widespread public awareness on seeing the threat to the solid foundation of India laid by Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Smt. Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi. This resulted in the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ of 3500 kilometers from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ is a step taken in the interest of the country in the people’s court under the leadership of Shri Rahul Gandhi against the arbitrariness of the Central Government.

The truth is that today the opposition is not being given an opportunity to speak in the Parliament, burning issues are not being discussed in the Parliament, attempts are being made to suppress the opposition through constitutional institutions. In such a situation, streets remain the only way to convey your message to the people where there is direct communication with people. One gets a chance to understand the feelings of the people, their happiness and sorrow, on the basis of which, the condition and direction of future politics is decided.

On September 7, 2022, Shri Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ started from Kanyakumari. This journey of 3500 km, passing through 12 states and 2 union territories from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, is a journey to save democracy and the Constitution. ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ is a mass awareness campaign against the basic issues of public at large - inflation, unemployment, politics of hatred and divisiveness.

Shri Rahul Gandhi is the heir of the Gandhi-Nehru family - a family which has a special contribution in the independence of the country. Shri Rahul Gandhi’s personality has widened during the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ as he appeared easy-going, simple, accessible and sociable. Shri Rahul Gandhi has understood the mood of the people in the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ by touching people’s hearts. It is generally said that the Party is bigger than the individual and the Country is bigger than the Party. Shri Rahul Gandhi has proved this in the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ that he is walking in this spirit and will continue to walk. Shri Rahul Gandhi’s entire thrust is towards reaching out to that section of the society where the real India resides. His ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ is a ‘tapasya’, in which he meets people selflessly.

‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ reached Madhya Pradesh on November 23. The people of Madhya Pradesh warmly welcomed Shri Rahul Gandhi in this 12-day long ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. Shri Rahul Gandhi paid tributes to the folk deity of the tribal society and the birth place of freedom fighter Tantya Bhil at Bardahir. In this meeting, Shri Rahul Gandhi emphasized on protecting the culture of tribals, fulfilling their education and health needs. He also discussed the Forest Rights Act enacted by the Congress-led UPA government, under which tribals got the right to lease their land and collect forest produce.

Shri Rahul Gandhi visited the centres of public faith in Madhya Pradesh. As per Indian culture and tradition, Shri Rahul Gandhi performed aarti of ‘Narmada Maiya’ (holds cultural significance where river Narmada is revered as a ‘maiya’ meaning ‘Mother’) and worshiped Lord Shiva at Omkareshwar. Shri Rahul Gandhi took a pledge to protect the Constitution by paying respects to Babasaheb Ambedkar at Mhow, his birth place. After that, Shri Rahul Gandhi offered obeisance to Mahakal in Ujjain and bowed down to him. At the same time, he reached Digambar Jain Siddha Kshetra Shri Mahavir Tapobhoomi and took blessings from Jainmuni Acharya Pragya Sagar Maharaj.

Shri Rahul Gandhi has followed the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi through ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ which reminds of Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March, of Sant Vinova Bhave’s Bhoodan Yatra, of Smt. Indira Gandhi’s Belchhi Yatra, of Shri Rajiv Gandhi’s Sadbhavna Yatra. Shri Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ reminds us that the path of Congress is to unite, to take everyone along, to participate in everyone’s happiness and sorrow alike.

Thousands of people are walking with Shri Rahul Gandhi which is not just a crowd, but a sensible public comprised of intellectuals, environmentalists, people working in the NGO sector, who are saddened, worried, jolted by the current negative politics of the country. This is a huge community that believes that the central government is resorting to inflammatory tactics to cover up its failures. What is going on is the strategy of dividing the society in the name of religion and caste. Whoever participated in this caravan and whoever met Shri Rahul Gandhi returned with the same experience that this is not the same Shri Rahul Gandhi about whom all kinds of lies had been curated and circulated in the social media. He is the leader in whom we see the image of Nehru Ji, Indira Ji and Rajiv Ji. People saw Shri Rahul Gandhi as a kind-hearted person who does not show off in his work, who does not have hollowness in his words. He meets people with affection and people embrace him open-heartedly. Today, every corner of the country is reverberating with the sound of, ‘Nafrat Chhodo, Bharat Jodo’ (Give up hatred - unite India).

Shri Rahul Gandhi has been recognized as a strong and popular mass leader. The Congress has undoubtedly gained new strength from this yatra of Shri Rahul Gandhi’s. He has tried to unite all Indians under the Tricolour (Our National Flag) through this yatra, making it a voice of dignity for every individual from working class, small businessmen and weaker sections. This yatra is a flight of dreams of youth and women. It is the voice of the rights of every Indian. This yatra is a step to maintain social harmony and save the country from sectarianism. ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ is a journey to preserve the diversity, rich heritage and unique culture of our country. It is strengthening the fabric of mutual love and mutual respect among the countrymen. This slogan of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ - “Mile Kadam, Judey Watan” holds time-relevance and thus is effective.

Shri Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and his spontaneous behaviour and spontaneous public support made the people of Madhya Pradesh aware of their responsibility. The caravan which is going on with the resolution of change under the leadership of Shri Rahul Gandhi will find a solution to the difficult situation faced by the farmers, youth, poor and weaker sections in Madhya Pradesh and the country. An atmosphere of love, tolerance and brotherhood will prevail, communal forces will be defeated.Constitutional institutions will be motivated to work in democratic ways without coercion. ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ will prove to be a milestone in setting a new national agenda on the stage of Indian politics. Come, let us all ensure our participation in the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ by walking step-by-step with Shri Rahul Gandhi.

(The author has been Minister of State for Defense Production, Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India)