Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
“Every day is a new experience, a new journey” says Yatri Amit Kumar, when asked about his experience, this morning; as the Bharat Yatris, national and state leadership and Congress cadre, commenced this day’s morning walk from Ramapur village to their destination near Kamalapur village.
For Yatri Amit Kumar (right) every day brings a new experience
Today, Kumar started his journey thinking that maybe for once the morning crowds had thinned out, a very natural happenstance when your walk starts at 6am and mostly concludes two or three hours later, when people have barely begun their day.
But then, he says, within half an hour we were joined by “what seemed like thousands of people.” And, while crowd or no crowd; we will continue to walk. In a sense once again the #BharatJodoYatra is living up to its promise and continues to strike a chord with people.
A colourful addition to the journey we want to particularly note is the humongous 200-300 metre flag that Congress cadres had showcased en route. “It just seemed to go on forever” says Bharat Jodo team cameraman Ajay Thakur, who chanced upon the display.
Team Bharat Jodo member Ajay Thakur thought this flag to be one of the highlights of his morning
In the morning the Yatris were joined by a number of groups. These included the Working People’s Coalition who discussed labour codes and the unorganised sector representatives – demanding revival of the sugar factory in Jagtial District closed by TRS Govt; and activists from the Madiga Association who discussed issues relating to the Dalit community. Also present to support the Yatra was noted lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan.
Noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan (right) walked with the Yatris this morning
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 iNorth. 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)
Midday Travel Facts:
1. Current District Name: Medak
2. The 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.
3. Medak Fort and Alladurg Temple are also major tourist destinations.
4. Some traces of Neolithic and Megalithic culture as well as rock art paintings are found in the district.