By Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
It was a raucous, celebratory environment that greeted the Yatris as they started their journey from the Shadnagar Bus Depot for their approximately 14 kilometre morning march.
Earlier this morning, the Bharat Yatris along with their Telangana counterparts added to their usual morning flag raising, a ceremony commemorating the birth and death anniversaries respectively of Sardar Vallabhai Patel and Indira Gandhi.
Yatris paid their respect to Sardar Patel and Indira Gandhi in an early morning ceremony
And as the Bharat Yatris got underway the crowds started to turn out in numbers. From Hyderabad city came Shashank, Manisha, Radha and Tara who had been there since early morning in the off chance that they’d get to see Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
Manisha, Radha, Tara and Shashank came from Hyderabad to cheer on the Yatris
Rahul, Sanisa, Pavitra and Noor were gathered by the road to wave at the Yatris. And last, but not the least we met Nagamma, 76, who was shaking hands with every Yatri she saw.
Nagamma, 76, was shaking hands with every Yatri she saw
Enroute the Yatris were joined by representatives of the India for Safe Food group, who discussed topics related to sustainable agriculture & the threat of genetically modified crops. A second group represented the Youth Welfare Association, and discussed unemployment related issues and the impact of Covid-19 & GST on small businesses.
In the afternoon there is a press conference with Congress leaders including MP Rahul Gandhi.
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 Names: Ranga Reddy district
2. 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.
3. Shadnagar in Ranga – Reddy district is home to to the ISRO centre (NRSC), known for data reception from various satellites.
4. 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.