News Brief
After 'Donate For Desh', Another Ill-Planned Congress Initiative: Renames Rahul Gandhi's Endeavour As 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'
Nishtha Anushree
Jan 04, 2024, 04:54 PM | Updated 04:54 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
On Thursday (4 January), Congress announced a change in the name of its 'Bharat Nyay Yatra', which is set to commence on 14 January, from northeastern India to the western shore. The march has been renamed as 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', as stated by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh.
“In the meeting of all general secretaries, in-charges, PCC chiefs and CLP leaders, it was felt that the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ has become a brand that is embedded in minds of people. We should not lose it,” Ramesh said, referring to the march carried out by Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Srinagar.
Notably, Congress is known for launching programmes without proper planning. Earlier, Congress had launched 'Donate for Desh' campaign for crowdfunding without booking its domain, which BJP had redirected to its donation portal.
Ramesh has stated that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is set to commence at noon from the conflict-affected capital of Manipur, Imphal, on 14 January. Over the span of 66 days, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to speak twice daily during the 6,700-km march.
"Following today's discussions, we have finalised the routes. Arunachal Pradesh was always a consideration, and as a result, BJNY will encompass 15 states, including Arunachal," he stated according to Hindustan Times.
Initially, the Congress had organised a march from Pasighat in Arunachal to Porbandar in Gujarat, which is Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace. However, the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur since 3 May led to a change in their plans.
The journey will span 1,000 kilometres in Uttar Pradesh, a region where the party's only Lok Sabha MP is the former Congress leader, Sonia Gandhi. In West Bengal, the BJNY will traverse 523 kilometres across seven districts over a period of five days.
Ramesh announced that invitations will be extended to all INDI Alliance parties and civil society organisations across India. He further stated that the march would span across a total of 110 districts.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.
