The Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo [unite India] yatra will now begin on September 7 instead of October 2, the Congress announced on Tuesday that also marked the 80 th anniversary of the Quit India movement.
“On this day, 80 years ago the Indian National Congress under the leadership and inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement that won the country freedom five years later. Today the Indian National Congress announces the launch of its Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 7, 2022,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a statement.
The padayatra (foot march) will cover about 3,500 km across 12 states and two Union Territories and will be completed in about 150 days. “Congress workers and leaders including Rahul Gandhi will participate in the yatra,” he said.
Mr. Ramesh also appealed to all those “who have been wanting to be part of a gigantic national endeavour to provide “an alternative to the politics of fear, bigotry and prejudice and to the economics of livelihood destruction, increasing unemployment and growing inequalities” to participate in the yatra.
Attacking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mr. Ramesh tweeted to ask RSS’ role when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India movement.
“It was on the sidelines dissociating itself from the mass movement. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee took no part while Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Azad, Prasad, Pant and many others were jailed,” he said.
In a separate statement, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi recalled the historic occasion of Aruna Asif Ali holding aloft the National flag when lakhs and lakhs of Congress workers were beaten and jailed.
“Her act of courage became the symbol of our quest for freedom. As we commemorate the Quit India movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, let us not forget the price that millions of our countrymen and women paid for India’s freedom. Let us renew our resolve to defend it and protect it with all our might,” Ms. Gandhi said.
