Jammu, Jan 17: As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo Yatra is set to enter Jammu and Kashmir for its culmination after covering around 4000 kilometers distance, the foot march by the Parliamentarian has certainly become a talking point among the people.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Rahul Gandhi will spend around 11 days in Jammu and Kashmir and participate in various public meets, interactions besides visiting famous temples, shrines and iconic spots.
Member Parliament Rajya Sabha and Incharge Jammu Kashmir Congress Committee, Rajni Patil informed that Rahul led Bharat Jodo Yatra will be entering into Jammu and Kashmir on January 19, after a grand flag handover ceremony in Punjab’s Pathankot.
“Haryana leg and Punjab leg, the yatra will march into Jammu and Kashmir via Lakhanpur. And will be in the state for almost 11-12 days, followed by a grand function in Srinagar for its successful culmination, where all Congress Chief Minister and Senior leaders of opposition will likely to participate” MP Patil said.
She further said that, after entering in J&K, Yatra will be welcomed at Maharaja Gulab Singh’s status at Lakhanpur and then march forward.
“The BJY is staying in containers and its first halt will be at Hatli Morh, Kathua. On January 20 it will resume on 7.00 in the morning from Hatli Morch and break at Channi, while the stay will be in Chadwal, she said adding, “January 21 is a break day, while on 22 January, it will further resume from Hiranagar and make night halt at Duggar Havali, Samba.”
Patil further said that a grand rally is planned on January 23 at Satwari Jammu and nigh halt will be Shidra in the outskirts while on January 24 the yatra will break for two times and night halt is planned at Udhampur.
“Similarly, it will resume on January 15 and make its nigh halt in Ramban while itinerary in Kashmir hasn’t been announced fully and still updating,” she said and added that a grand culminating ceremony is planned at Sher-E-Kashmir stadium Srinagar where a large number of people, chief minister of Congress led states, likeminded opposition leaders likely tom participate.
A Congress leader informed that the march is planned in such a way that it passes through iconic places and place of religious faiths, where Rahul is likely to visit. However, the party sources added that Rahul is unlikely to visit in outer peripheries and border areas during his visit due to security issues.
As per sources security concern for the yatra also mounted as it is set to enter in Jammu and Kashmir, where encounters between terrorists and security forces have often taken place, in the third week of this month.
According to party sources, Rahul is unlikely to visit the border belt and Vaishno Devi shrine.
However, he will be visiting Raghunath Ji temple, Bawe Wali Mata Temple during his stay in Jammu.
Jammu and Kashmir is a crucial state for the Congress as it reaches at a very crucial time, with Assembly elections approaching in near future.
The Congress has exhorted “like-minded” groups and individuals to join the march to keep the BJP at bay.
The J&K Legislative Assembly was suspended after the BJP fell out with Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in June 2018.
But between 2014 – when the BJP-PDP alliance was struck – and 2018 – when they split – much of the political and demographic landscape in the Valley has shifted.
The Gupkar alliance of Kashmiri parties have developed cracks, with the National Conference announcing to go it alone, and the UT has undergone a delimitation exercise.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra’s stated goal is to “unite the country” but the Congress is seen to use this massive mass-contact programme to address its existential crisis triggered by the exits of top leaders (the latest being Ghulam Nabi Azad), dissent, infighting (Rajasthan is a case in point) and a string of poll defeats.
Launched on 7, September, 2022 from Kanyakumari, the southern tip of the peninsula, to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, spanning 3,570 kilometres, which will come to its end on January 30—(KNO)
