Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
Such is the ever expanding magnitude and impact of the #BharatJodoYatra that sometimes we struggle to capture the events of the day in a few words. Not today, though. Two moments suffice, and they don’t even include the simply huge crowds that continue to flock to the yatra.
Today we saw the inspiring, heart strings pulling moment when Kavitha Lankesh and Indira Lankesh, sister and mother to Indian hero Gauri Lankesh, walked alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Indira and Kavita Lankesh, mother and sister of Indian hero, Gauri Lankesh
It was time to recall a brave and passionate soul; Gauri Lankesh who combated communal disharmony, fought for for women’s rights and against caste based discrimination. These we hardly need to say, are exactly the fundamental values that power the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Ultimately Lankesh gave her life for her beliefs.
It was also a damming indictment of the BJP – its divisive ideologies and intolerant governance.
Earlier in the afternoon there was another such moment when, during the midday break, Gandhi had an interaction with a group of educationists In Nagamangala. There was an intense discussion on how infusion of RSS/BJP ideologies into the education system is poisoning future generations, even undermining the tolerant, secular fabric of India. The three Cs of the NEP (Nagpur Education Policy, not New Education Policy) stand exposed for what they are – Communalisation, Centralisation & Commercialisation.
Afternoon interaction with educationists.
At a corner meeting at the end of day, Gandhi spoke about the deleterious impact of BJP’s policies. “Demonetisation and GST are not policies” he said, “But weapons. Weapons that have been used to destroy small and medium businesses, farmers, and the working class.”
The evening session saw the padyatris walking 9 kilometres to end their journey at Belur town.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is presently in the state of Karnataka. Over 21 days in the state, it will cover 511 kilometres.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is a five month, 3500 kilometre long padyatra from Kanyakumari in the South of India to Srinagar in the North. It is part of the party’s national mass outreach program aimed at highlighting social polarisation, economic inequalities and political centralisation.
End of Day Travel Facts
1. Current Districts Name -Mandya, Hassan
2. Mandya city is one of the highest exporters of sugar and is known as the Sugarcane City.
3. Karnataka is the seventh largest state in India. Its major rivers are Cauvery, Tungabhadra and Krishna.
4. Earlier known as “The State of Mysore”, it was formed on 1 November 1956, after the State Re-organisation Act of 1956
5. Karnataka is the fastest-growing economy in India.
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