The Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by party MP Rahul Gandhi, entered Delhi at 6 am this morning, amid calls by the Union health minister to follow Covid protocols. Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary welcomed RaGa, other party leaders and the yatris at Badarpur Border as they entered the national capital from Faridabad, amid “Rahul Zindabad” chants.
Several party leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala were seen marching along. Later, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi also joined Rahul.
While addressing party workers and leaders, he reiterated that the motive of his yatra is to open a mohabbat ki dukaan (shop of love) in a nafrat ka bazaar (market of hatred).
“In each state, lakhs joined the yatra. I have told the RSS and BJP that we are here to open a shop of love in your market of hatred,” RaGa briefed the media.
Earlier, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya had written to Rahul Gandhi asking him to ensure Covid “protocols” are followed during Bharat Jodo Yatra.
In his clapback, the young leader cited PM Narendra Modi’s recent poll campaign in Gujarat and the BJP’s “Jan Aakrosh Yatra” in Rajasthan. “The BJP is taking out yatras in various states. But the health minister sends a letter only to us,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Congress alleged that the BJP wanted to curtail the yatra because of the immense support it garnered.
Today’s yatra will make its morning halt at Ashram Chowk at 11 am and will resume its journey at 1 pm. After traversing through Mathura Road, India Gate and ITO, it will conclude at the Red Fort.
The yatra, which completed 100 days on December 16, will take a nine-day year-end break and will again resume on January 3 from Delhi. A traffic advisory has been issued asking commuters to avoid certain routes and make “maximum use” of public transport. The traffic, notes the advisory, is expected to remain heavy from Badarpur to Red Fort.
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