As the Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Jammu from Punjab this evening, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recalled his family’s connection with Kashmir and said it was like homecoming for him.
The senior Congress leader was given a rousing reception at Lakhanpur, which is the gateway to J&K. National Conference leader and MP Dr. Farooq Abdullah was among several leaders who came to receive him.
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While marching on foot towards Jammu Rahul said that he was feeling as if he was returning to his roots. “My ancestors had migrated to UP from Kashmir several years ago,” he recalled.
He said during nine days of his yatra across J&K, he will share the grief of people. He will also know from them the problems they were facing due to terrorism and otherwise.
He called it unfortunate that the media was not being allowed to expose the real problems of the common people. Several unethical tools were being used by the government to suppress the voice of people.
Besides Farooq Abdullah, Awami NC leader Muzaffar Shah, Dogra Swabhiman Party leader Lal Singh, PCC chief Vikar Rasool Wani, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring, Ms Rajni Patil and many other leaders were present near the statue of the founder of J&K Maharaja Gulab Singh at Lakhanpur where the Punjab team handed over the flag to J&K Congress leaders. On the occasion, Rahul was presented a traditional Dogra turban.
Farooq Abdullah praised Rahul for undertaking the yatra to remove hatred that is being spread in the country. “During my lifetime I want to see a strong India where every citizen lives with dignity,” he added.
The former chief minister and senior NC leaders travelled in a bus from his Jammu residence to Kathua to welcome the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Traffic was diverted through other routes, while the 8-km stretch of Jammu-Pathankot highway from Lakhanpur to Hatli Morh in Kathua was placed out of bounds as part of the stringent security arrangements in connection with the foot march.
