The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday headed for Ujjain from Indore on the sixth day of its Madhya Pradesh leg. The yatra has so far covered Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, and Indore districts in MP. The foot march started in the morning from Indore’s Bada Ganpati square. A cyclist joined the yatra here and Gandhi was seen riding his bicycle briefly.
Famous Urdu poet Rahat Indori’s son Satlaj Rahat also joined the yatra and said he presented to Rahul Gandhi two books dedicated to his late father, including the latter’s autobiography.
#WATCH | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi rides a bicycle during the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
(Source: AICC) pic.twitter.com/SdXjvMqRuX
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2022
The yatra will cover a distance of 380 km in the Malwa-Nimar region of western Madhya Pradesh in 12 days after which it will enter Rajasthan on December 4, according to the Party’s schedule. The foot march entered Madhya Pradesh on November 23 at Bodarli village in Burhanpur district from neighbouring Maharashtra.
In the last six days, the yatra has completed more than half of its journey in Madhya Pradesh. Earlier on Sunday, Congress reacted to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s comments on Congress leader Sachin Pilot in which he called Pilot “gaddar” (traitor).
The Congress said Gehlot shouldn’t have used “certain words” during an interview. In an interview with NDTV on Thursday, Gehlot called Pilot a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) who cannot replace him as he had revolted against Congress in 2020 and tried to topple the state government, drawing a sharp response from his former deputy who said such “mud-slinging” would not help.
Speaking to reporters in Indore during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress’ communications head Jairam Ramesh also said, if needed, the party will not shy away from taking “tough decisions” to strengthen the organisation in the desert state and also look for a compromise.
“Gehlot is our senior and experienced leader while Pilot is an energetic, young, and popular leader. The Congress needs both these leaders,” said Ramesh.
“There are some differences. (Rajasthan) the chief minister has used certain words which were unexpected. I was surprised. Gehlot shouldn’t have used certain words in the interview,” Ramesh told reporters when queried about Gehlot’s outburst. Ramesh said the organisation is most important for Congress.
“We will find out a solution to the Rajasthan issue which will strengthen our organisation. For this, if we have to take tough decisions, we will take them. If a compromise has to be made (between the factions of Gehlot and Pilot), then it will be done,” Ramesh added. He said the Congress leadership is considering a proper solution to the Rajasthan issue.
“But, I cannot fix any time frame for this solution. Only the Congress leadership will decide the time frame for it,” he said. Speaking on the Yatra, Ramesh said like other states, it would also be successful in Rajasthan. On December 4, the yatra will enter Rajasthan, where the Assembly elections are due next year.
(With PTI Inputs)
