Shillong, Jan 14: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi began the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ from the Khongjom War Memorial under Thoubal district in Manipur on Sunday afternoon.
The yatra will cover a distance of 6,713 km in 67 days, covering 110 districts in 15 states, concluding on March 20 in Mumbai.
The Congress said the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ is aimed at re-establishing the principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution.
“We understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through. Manipur has lost what it valued the most because of the politics of the BJP-RSS and the hatred they instill. We will bring back the harmony, peace and affection that the state has always been known for,” the grand old party said on X, formerly twitter, on Sunday.
Speaking at the rally, Gandhi said the nation is going through a profound injustice which the nation-wide rally with raise.
“Because we are enduring a period of profound injustice in India—social, economic & political. Injustice persists against people and traditions, with widespread issues across the nation. Economically, monopolies are forming; a few individuals have access to the nation’s entire wealth. A couple of entities control all sectors, leading to the destruction of small businesses. India is grappling with inflation & unemployment. These are the issues that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will raise. But this is less about us and more about you,” he said.
He further said it is shameful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited Manipur despite 8 months of unabated violence and ethnic strife in the state. “Governance infrastructure has failed in Manipur, shameful that PM Modi hasn’t visited the state,” he asserted.
Before the start of the rally, Gandhi paid floral tribute at the Khongjom War Memorial, a site commemorating the warriors of the Anglo-Manipuri War.
An important part of this rally is the Bharat Jodo Yatra bus, which will be used extensively by Gandhi and his entourage of Congress leaders to complete the journey.
In his earlier rally, the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Rahul Gandhi covered more than 3,000 kilometres on foot – from Kanya Kumari to Srinagar.
