‘Nation must be shown…’: Rahul Gandhi on why he started Bharat Jodo Yatra

Ahead of the Punjab leg of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday explained why he started the march.

Ahead of the Punjab leg of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday explained why he started the march. Addressing a rally in Punjab's Sirhind, Gandhi slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party and alleged they had 'deteriorated the atmosphere of the country'.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi(PTI)

"The BJP and RSS people are dividing the country, putting one religion against the other, one caste against the other, one language against the other. We thought the nation must be shown a different path of love, unity, and brotherhood, and this is why we started this yatra."

Gandhi said the yatra had received 'overwhelming public response'.

"There is a reason for this -- the hatred, fear, and violence being spread by the BJP people, it is not the country's way and not its history. This country is of brotherhood, unity, and respect. And this is why this yatra is successful," he said.

The Congress on Wednesday continued its yatra from Punjab's Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib. It will pass through Mandi Gobindgarh, Khanna, Sahnewal, Ludhiana, Goraya, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Dasyua, and Mukerian. On January 19, a rally will be held at Pathankot before the foot march enters Jammu and Kashmir, where it will end in Srinagar.

Reportedly, Gandhi will be walking three hours each in the morning and evening - covering 25 kilometers.

Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra began on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and will conclude in Srinagar on January 30. So far, the Yatra has covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

(With inputs from agencies)