Congress holds Pad Yatra in Jammu,  Srinagar and districts  to mark 1st anniversary of BJY

Rajni leads  Massive Yatra in Jammu, attacks BJP for  diversionary politics

 JAMMU, September 07: To mark the 1^st anniversary of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress party today held a massive yatra from Miran Sahib towards Satwari led by  AICC Incharge J&K Affairs and Member Congress Working Committee Smt. Rajni Patil alongwith President JKPCC Shri Vikar Rasool Wani, AICC Secretary Co-incharge Shri Manoj Yadav  and Working President Raman Bhalla besides other senior congress leaders.

The Congress party organized impressive Pad Yatras in Srinagar and in all districts of J&K as part of the nation vide programe to celebrate the ist anniversary of the historical Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The  today’s celebrations were in the similar mode and manner to replicate the  Bharat Jodo Yatra started by Shri Rahul Gandhi on this day from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir covering a distance of   more than 4ooo Kilometers  spread over to 145 days carrying the message of  love and affection religious harmony and against  the atmosphere of hate , economic inequality besides unprecedented price rise etc.

The Yatra started  with the flag hoisting  by Smt. Rajni Patil organized by volunteers of Congress Seva Dal. Smt. Rajni Patil accompanied by senior leaders started the march from Miran Sahib Main bazaar towards Satwari Chowk amidst raising of slogans – Bharat Jodo Nafarat  Chhodo, Rahul Gandhi Zinda Bad, Congress party Zinda Bad, Kharge Sahib Zinda Bad, Sonia Gandhi Zinda Bad. The enthusiastic crowds  comprising congress leaders and workers of Mahila Congress Youth Congress , NSUI, Seva Dal, different frontal wings like SC, ST, OBC and others besides  functionaries of PCC, Blocks and District Congress Committees of Jammu Rural and Jammu Urban  apart from DDCs , BDCs, Sarpanchs, Panchs  and other prominent persons and social activists took part in the Yatra.

The anniversary celebration in Jammu were coordinated by DCC Rural led by Th. Hari Singh Chib and Jammu Urban led by Yogesh Sawhney  and attended by all frontal wings , representatives of PRIs , all blocks of Jammu Dist. besides senior congress leaders, former ministers, former legislators, corporators etc.

Similar Yatra programmes were held by all district units in  the respective  districts led by the senior PCC leaders deputed by the PCC and district presidents and other prominent leaders of the districts.

Addressing the gathering the AICC Incherge Smt. Rajni Patil said that this day is of great  historical importance  when the Bharat Jodo Yatra was started  by Shri Rahul Gandhi from  Kanya Kumari to Kashmir carrying the message of  brotherhood, harmony, love and affection besides highlighting  the economic inequalities and the  burning issues  confronting the cross-sections of the pluralistic culture of this  vast country. It was unique and unprecedented yatra in  the history of independent India covering a distance of over 4000 kilometers, highlighting  and recognizing the diversities of this country and transforming  it into our strength. The Yatra was joined  by  large number of people from all walks of life  extending their full support to the mission of the Yatra which emerged out to be a turning point  against the  forces of division and hatred who want to vitiate the atmosphere  of peace harmony and  unity in diversity.

She said that Jammu and Kashmir  is an abode of   religious tolerance, brotherhood and traditional harmony for centuries  and the people wholeheartedly supported and joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Shri Rahul Gandhi despite inclement weather  and pouring of snow in which top leaders of different political parties of the country and Jammu and Kashmir participated besides other like minded organizations. The history will remain witness to those unique gesture and mark as unprecedented event. She said recently Shri Rahul Gandhi under took the remaining Yatra  in Ladakh including Leh and Kargil as was promised by him in January when the Yatra culminated  in Kashmir  and  he listened  to the voice of the people of Ladakh.

She said that the entire nation realizes  the pain and sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir  underwent by them during the long spell of Pak sponsored terrorism. She said that during the BJP regime people have  faced numerous  difficulties including unprecedented price rise , record unemployment  besides  downgrading of the State and snatching of their democratic rights besides land and jobs.

She said that BJP  is under utter frustration after the coming together of  most of the political parties under one banner of INDIA alliance  and has  been increasingly engaged  in its diversionary and divisive tactics,  instead of  dealing with then economic and social  challenges from within and outside to our territorial integrity. Replying to querries of Media persons She said that BJP is scared  of defeat after the coming together of maximum opposition parties under the INDIA alliance and  started diversionary politics whereas it was Bharat Chhodo Andolan led by Congress party under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 and the name of our Yatra is Bharat Jodo Yatra, so it is the BJP which has suddenly got problem with the name India but for us India  and Bharat is one and the same thing and duly recognized as such in the Constitution of India.

Addressing the gathering JKPCC President  Vikar Rasool Wani said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra has made a mark in the history as it was unique initiative  by Shri Rahul Gandhi  during a time when the country faced great social and economic challenges . He said that the people of J&K will remember for ever Shri Rahul Gandhi for his tireless efforts  to extend a helping hand  and give voice to the suffering people of J&K. He said that people want restoration of democracy  and statehood at the earliest besides their democratic rights who are being taxed in various ways and unprecedented price rise and record unemployment.

AICC Joint Secretary Co-Incharge  J&K affairs Shri Manoj Yadav lashed out at the BJP for its attempts to divert attention from the problems faced by the people of the country on various fronts including the price rise and record unemployment and the social and religious division being witnessed in  various parts  under BJP regime .

Working President Raman Bhalla  lambasted the BJP for the betrayal of the mandate of Jammu especially the youth who are facing record unemployment and joblessness. He said that amidst unprecedented price rise the people of Jammu region are being deprived of their resources , business opportunities at the hands of influential  outsiders, multiple taxations  like toll plaza, prepaid electricity smart meters and other such measures.

Bhalla said that people of J&K want restoration of statehood and early assembly elections to restore democracy which has been under LG administration for more than 5 years without any justification, as the BJP fears defeat as and when elections are held.  He said Congress shall continue to raise the voice of people through peaceful protests.

Other prominent leaders those who took part include Kanta Bhan, Ravinder Sharma, Rajnish Sharma, Manmohan Singh,  Ch. Shah Mohd, Vinod Sharma, Ved Mahajan, , Pawan Raina, Shashi Sharma, Pranav Shagotra, Shameema Raina ,  Vijay Sharma(Seva Dal)), Narinder Gupta, Kapil Singh Karan Bhagat, Udhay Chib, Suresh Dogra, Rajinder Singh Nathu, Amrit Bali , T.S. Toni (DDC,  Hussain Ali Waffa, Sanjeev Panda, Rajvir Singh, Neeraj Gupta, , Akash Bharat, , Jatin K. Raina, , Daleep Kumar(BDC), Dr. R.K. Khajuria, Mr. Tantrey,  Satish Sharma, Ajay Lakhotra, Badri Nath, Baldev Raj, Mohan Choudhary. Namrata Sharma, Vijay Shastri, Shamsher Chand, Jatin Vashisht, Dwarka Choudhary, Bhanu Mahajan, Rittu Choudhary,Ricky Dalotra, Michael Wazir,  Ajaib Motton, Sandeep Dogra(Sonu), Gurmit Singh, Padeep Bhalla, Annirudh Sawhney,  Divyaansh,  Camres David, Sham Lal.  TS Tony presented vote of thanks on the occasion while Shri Jatin Raina organized reception to Smt. Rajni Patil on way.

In district Kathua an impressive Bharat Jodo yatra was led by Shri  Tara Chand former Dy Chief Minister accompanied by Shri MK Bhardwaj,  which  was organized by District Congress Committee Kathua, under the leadership of   Shri Pankaj Dogra, besides  Shri Naresh Sharma Ex-Chairman MC Kathua and others.

In Samba District Senior Congress leader and former minister Shri Mula Ram led the yatra accompanied by DCC President Sanjeev Sharma, Former Ministers Gurbachan Kumari Rana, Shri Yash Pal Kundal, Working President Babal Gupta, Tirath Ram Bhagat, Rajan Sharma, and others

In Udhampur Bharat Jodo Yatra was  led by Senior Congress leader Th. Balwan Singh Ex-MLA organized by DCC Udhampur led by K.C. Bhagat(EX-MLA) and attended by Narinder Sharma, Ashok Gupta, Sumit Magotra, Vinod Khajuria, Surinder Khajuria, Manav Opadhya  and others.

In Rajouri the Bharat Jodo Yatra celebration led by Trilok Singh Bajwa Ex-M, Shabir Khan District President , Bushan Dpogra and others  from Dak Banglow Rajouri to Mandi Chowk in the City.

In Doda, the Yatra was led by  Dina Nath Bhagat (Ex-MLA) accompanied by DCC President Sheikh Mujeeb and others.

In Reasi, Smt. Indu Pawar (Ex-MLA) led the Yatra celebration organized by DCC  led by  President Rajesh Sadothra besides  Bhupinder Singh Jamwal and others.

In Ramban the Yatra was led by Sham Lal Bhagat (Ex-MLC) accompanied by Shri Ashok Dogra (Ex-MLA) DCC President.

In Kishtwar the yatra was not allowed by the administration in view of the Janam Ashtmi celebration.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)