On the second anniversary of the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reflected on the journey that spanned over 145 days and covered nearly 4,000 kilometers across India. The Yatra, which began on September 7, 2022, in Kanyakumari and concluded on January 30, 2023, in Srinagar, aimed to unite the country against hate and divisiveness while promoting love and harmony.
Marking the occasion, Rahul Gandhi emphasized that the Yatra demonstrated the intrinsic love within the hearts of Indians. He expressed that the mission, which continues today, is to ensure that the “voice of love is heard in every corner of the country.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi shared his learnings from the Yatra, stating, “The Bharat Jodo Yatra taught me the beauty of silence. In the midst of cheering crowds and slogans, I discovered the power to tune out the noise and focus entirely on the person next to me–to truly listen. In those 145 days, and the two years since, I’ve listened to thousands of Indians from diverse backgrounds. Each voice has carried wisdom, teaching me something new, and each has represented our beloved Bharat Mata.”
Reflecting on the purpose of the Yatra, he added, “The Yatra proved that Indians are inherently loving people. When I started this journey, I said, love will conquer hate and hope will defeat fear. Today, our mission remains the same—to ensure the voice of Bharat Mata, the voice of love is heard in every corner of our beloved country.”
The Bharat Jodo Yatra was designed as a response to what Congress saw as growing divisiveness and hatred in India’s political climate. Over the course of 3,970 kilometers, the Yatra passed through 12 states and two Union territories, aiming to revive the message of unity, mutual respect, and love.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, commemorating the second anniversary of the Yatra, highlighted the impact it had on awakening public consciousness. He noted that the walk from Kanyakumari to Kashmir had kindled love, harmony, and brotherhood in the hearts of millions of Indians.
Kharge, in a post in Hindi, said, “On the occasion of the second anniversary of Bharat Jodo Yatra, I only appeal to the people of the country to continue the struggle to preserve the Constitution and democracy. Our struggle continues on the real issues of economic inequalities, inflation, unemployment, social injustice, destruction of the Constitution, and centralization of power.”
He also reiterated the Congress Party’s commitment to fighting hatred and division, saying, “We will not let the agenda of hatred and division succeed. The victory of love and humanity is certain. The Congress Party will not stop, it will not pause. The voice of Mother India is our voice.”
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Congress general secretary KC Venugopal described the Bharat Jodo Yatra as the “single most impactful political phenomenon of the last decade” and a transformative event for the Congress Party and its relationship with the Indian people. He praised Rahul Gandhi and the lakhs of Congress workers who participated in the Yatra, calling it a movement to revive the soul of India.
Venugopal added that the Yatra was a pivotal moment when the power of love triumphed over the negative forces of hatred and division. “It brought hope for people when they were slowly being bogged down by negative and divisive agendas. It gave them the belief that there is a cause worth fighting for, which brings with it the promise of a better future,” Venugopal said.
He also emphasized that the Yatra was not merely a one-time event but part of a continuous effort. “As Rahul ji has said multiple times, the Yatra was not just about those 4,000 km; it is a continuous Tapasya for all of us, and it will go on until we achieve our mission!”
The Bharat Jodo Yatra’s anniversary serves as a reminder of Congress’s ongoing battle against what it perceives as forces of division, with the party vowing to continue its mission to spread love, justice, and unity across the nation.
