Defying inclement weather, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took out his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir on Friday, where Shiv Sena (U) MP Sanjay Raut joined among others from Hatli Morh in Kathua in the morning.

Amidst the chill, Rahul Gandhi, who has already walked for 126 days wearing a white shirt, was seen donning a black raincoat to protect himself from rain. He was flanked by Sanjay Raut and State Congress president Vikar Rasool Wani. The Yatra, on Friday, halted at Chadwal to resume on Sunday after a day’s rest.

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AICC leader Jairam Ramesh, who was present here said that the party in New Delhi on Saturday will release its charge sheet highlighting the failures of the NDA Government at the Centre.

According to him, attempts were being made to divert attention of the people from the burning issues that include; political dictatorship in India because of Modi, increasing economic inequality in the country because of Modi’s policies and rising social polarization.

Reacting to BJP’s allegations that the Bharat Jodo Yatra was being supported by the ‘Gupkar Gang’, he said it was BJP that after signing a common agenda with PDP, formed a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. RSS leader Ram Madhav had worked out the common agenda of the BJP-PDP Government.

The AICC leader said that despite incursions by China in Ladakh and Arunachal, India’s trade with China has increased manifolds under the Modi Government.

The Congress leader said that Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Azad Party (DAP) has eroded with most activists returning to Congress after their 2 months leave of absence.

He said that the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has invited leaders of 23 opposition parties to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra concluding function on 30 January in Srinagar, where Rahul Gandhi will address a mega public rally.

He said Rahul Gandhi would unfurl the tricolor in Srinagar’s Congress headquarters near the Lal Chowk.

Earlier, speaking to media persons, Sanjay Raut said, the Bharat Jodo Yatra to Kashmir is a huge development, in fact, the foot march should have started from here only to unite the nation. “This is the only reason, I came from Shiv Sena’s side, because we want the nation to Unite,” he said.

He said,” I am not talking about political issues but the scenario and atmosphere of the country are changing currently and among all this, I look up to Rahul Gandhi as a leader who can raise his voice against all odds in the nation.”

On being asked if the people are getting connected to the yatra, Raut said, “of course, people across the nation are getting connected to the yatra, they are coming out in support of Rahul Gandhi and happily joining the yatra. Crowds are gathering in his support and people are joining him.”

Taking to his twitter handle, Raut shared the complete schedule of his J&K tour, in which he is scheduled to meet Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)’s Sikh delegation. He had on Thursday met the Kashmiri Pandit employees who are sitting on dharna demanding transfer to safe places after the targeted killings by terrorists.