By Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
The dedication of the state leaders and the organisational support they bring to the national effort that #BharatJodoYatra is, never ceases to amaze us. Thus today we came across Telangana CLP Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka at 4:30AM, dressed in his usual shining whites, personally supervising early morning activities in the camp – and this was before most of the Yatris had even come out of their containers.
In the morning a number of diverse groups marched with the Yatris. The Hyderabad Children’s Parliament comprising of youth from Hyderabad slums, accompanied part of the way. The family of Perumalla Pranay, victims of honour killings in intercaste marriages, were also present. And finally the Dalit Womens’ Collective, including Rohith Vemula’s mother also came part of the way.
In the evening Congress leaders will go to Charminar, where Rajiv Gandhi started the Sadhbhavna Yatra in 1990 on this very day, and where every year a national flag is raised. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will join the Yatris and attend the ceremony in the evening.
At a press conference in the afternoon Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said laid out the vision behind the Yatra when he said that “This is not a Chunao Jeeto Yatra. It has nothing to do with elections. The goal is more than just politics. We hope that the Yatra helps strengthen the Congress organisation and therefore elections performance, but that’s not the primary goal.” We have no problem.
In the afternoon Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi will have an interaction with Women’s groups, Hyderabad working class women, & Transgenders.
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.
Midday Travel Facts:
1. Current District/ City Names: Ranga Reddy district, Hyderabad City
2. The capital of Telangana, Hyderabad is the largest city of Telangana. It is the fourth most populous city in India.
3. Hyderabad was once known for the pearl industry and was nicknamed the City of Pearls; and was the world’s only trading centre for Golconda diamonds.
4. Since the 1990s, the city has emerged as a hub for Pharma and Biotech.
5. Ranga – Reddy district is known for its famous film studio complex, Ramoji Film City. The major attractions for tourists are Osman Sagar Lake and Ananthagiri Hills. Maheshwaram is a well-known pilgrimage centre in the district.
6. Shadnagar in Ranga – Reddy district is home to to the ISRO centre (NRSC), known for data reception from various satellites.
7. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao won from Shadnagar constituency’ (MLA) in the first sovereign elections held in 1952, to become the first Chief Minister of the then Hyderabad.