Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued with the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam despite facing issues over a route diversion. The party stressed that no rules were violated during the yatra.
The journey commenced on Friday with a symbolic boat ride from Nimatighat in Jorhat district to Aphalamukh Ghat in Majuli district, the world’s largest inhabited river island.
Responding to the Jorhat Police registering a case against some individuals linked to the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra for alleged deviation from its original route, Congress General Secretary of Communications Jairam Ramesh, stated that no rules were violated.
Ramesh asserted that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government was deliberately trying to hinder people from joining the yatra. “No rules have been broken. The Assam CM is making all sorts of attempts to stop people from joining the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra. No one can stop this yatra. We will be in Assam for the next seven days. Let them arrest us; we accept the challenge,” said the senior Congress leader on Friday.
Meanwhile, Senior Congress MP KC Venugopal stated that the police could register FIR against anybody, but the yatra would continue until its conclusion in Maharashtra.
Gandhi today met environmental activists, intellectuals, and affected individuals from the northern bank of Brahmaputra. Discussions revolved around the ecological impact of dams cleared by the BJP government without proper environmental assessment.
Interactions with the Mising community also took place, which had demands for the protection of the Sixth schedule and recognition of their language in the Eighth schedule.
This leg of the yatra is part of a larger journey covering 6,713 kms over 67 days, passing through 110 districts across 15 states.
In Assam alone, the yatra is set to cover 833 kms, impacting 17 districts. Accompanying Gandhi are party key figures including General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, state President Bhupen Kumar Borah and Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia.
The day’s itinerary included a visit to the Auniati Satra, a significant site of Vaishnavism, located in Kamalabari Chariali. Later in the day, the march was to proceed by bus to Dhakuakhana in North Lakhimpur district, concluding with Gandhi addressing a public meeting at Gogamukh in the evening. Participants planned to rest overnight at the Gogamukh Colony ground.
This ambitious political march, initiated by Gandhi on January 14 from Manipur, is expected to conclude in Mumbai on either March 20 or 21. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra aims to promote unity and justice across the nation, highlighting various social and political issues.