Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
Thank you, Telangana
It was an end for sure, but we’re sure it was not the end. The #BharatJodoYatra is saying goodbye to Telangana, but the Yatris carry with them the fondest possible memories of their journey in the state.
We would like to thank all the leaders of Telangana – from PCC President A Revanth Reddy, CLP Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka… all the way to the Congress cadres at the village level for the hospitality, excellent organisation and support to the #BharatJodoYatra. It was truly remarkable and appreciated by one and all, and indeed has set a very high benchmark for other states to follow. Yatri Akshay Yadav speaks for us all when he says that “Telangana was outstanding, whether in terms of public participation, crowd support, or even hospitality. I will cherish my time in the state.”
As an aside, the Yatra typically has a morning and an evening walking session. This day is unique in that the evening session was held much later than usual – 8:30PM- at the end of which the Yatris walked into Maharastra.
Speaking at a press conference in the afternoon, Congress party MP Jairam Ramesh stated that “Telangana is the one state where we are opposing three ideologies- divisive and dictatorial. I can say with absolute conviction that the way in which the people of Telangana have supported and joined us, in the next elections Congress leaders and cadre will bring a new conviction, a new excitement.” He also added that “The Yatra has given a new life to the Congress Party.”
The corner meeting at the end of the day reflected this enthusiasm; it was a capacity crowd numbering into the tens of thousands that turns up to wish farewell to the Yatris. Speaking on the occasion, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said the “I feel a little sad that we’re leaving Telangana behind.“ He added, “After walking these roads of Telangana I came to understand what Telangana is and what it is not. I understood the spirit and the soul of the people.”
Currently in the state of Telangana, the Bharat Jodo Yatra is a five month, 3500 kilometre long Padyatra from Kanyakumari in the South of India to Kashmir up in the North. It is part of the party’s national mass outreach program aimed at highlighting social polarisation, economic inequalities and political centralisation.
Ground research: Aparna Ashwarya (INC Communications Department research team)
End of Day Travel Facts
1. Current Districts Name: Medak, Kamareddy
2. Telangana’s largest poultry farms are in Kamareddy rural and urban areas.
3. Kamareddy district is home to Nizam Sagar Dam, constructed in 1923 and the oldest in the state.
4. Medak district has several centres of tourist interest including the Narsapur forest, which is home to a variety of trees, and many lakes; and supports wildlife.
5. Medak Fort and Alladurg Temple are also major tourist destinations.
6. Some traces of Neolithic and Megalithic culture as well as rock art paintings are found in Medak district.
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