Rahul Gandhi starts Punjab leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra in Fatehgarh Sahib, takes a jab at BJP

The yatra began with an impressive turnout, leading to long traffic snarl on the way to Mandi Gobindgarh, where Rahul and yatris halted for lunch and rest before proceeding to Barmalipur in Ludhiana district after around three hours. The first day of the yatra in Punjab ended at Barmalipur where yatris were scheduled to spend the night.

In Mandi Gobindgarh, Rahul interacted with senior ex-servicemen and a panel of eminent Punjabi historians, economists, sociologists and agricultural experts.

Former AAP MP from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and actress Jonita Dhoda also took part. Earlier, while making an address in Sirhind before embarking on the yatra, Rahul took potshots at the BJP and RSS and tried to strike a chord with peasantry in the agrarian state.

He said, “Then BJP leaders said the yatra will not get any response in Maharashtra, but there was tremendous response in Maharashtra. Then they said it will not get traction in Hindi belt. The response in Madhya Pradesh was even better than Maharshtra. They said there will not be much response in Haryana. It was better than Madhya Pradesh. In Punjab, it will be better than Haryana as [former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh] Hooda ji has said.”

Hooda, while calling Punjab as “elder brother” said that he hoped the yatra will get even better response in the state than Haryana.

Rahul said the yatra was getting successful because, “BJP people were spreading hatred and fear. This is not the way. This is not our history. This country stands for communal harmony, unity and respect [for everyone]. That is why Yatra has been successful.”

Pointing out that yatra had covered nearly 3000 km, Rahul said it was not something unusual and that farmers walked more than him. He said, “Punjab ka har ek kisaan hamse zyada chalta hai…Kanyakumari ke Srinagar nahi jaata..par khet mein, mandi ko, khaad aur beej lene paidal jaata hai …poora Hindustan ye kaam karta hai (Every farmer in Punjab walks more than us…Though they don’t walk from Kanyakumari to Srinagar… They walk in fields, go to mandi to purchase fertilizers and seeds…All Indians do the same).”

Spelling out the motive to start the yatra and in the process taking potshots at BJP and RSS, Rahul said, “Desh mein nafrat aur hinsa ka mahaul failaya gaya hai. BJP ke log, RSS ke log desh ko baantne mein lage hain. Ek dharm ko doosre dharm se larane mein lage hain. Ek jaat ko doosri jaat se, ek bhasha ko doosri bhasha se laraane ki koshish kar rahe hain. Unhone desh ka mahaul bigaar diya hai. To hamne socha ki desh ko ek doosra raasta bhi dikhana chahiye… Mohabbat ka, ekta ka, bhaichare ka..Isliye hamne ye yatra shuru ki (An atmosphere of hatred and violence has been spread. BJP, RSS people are out to divide the country; to make one religion fight with other; to make one caste fight with the other, are trying to pit one language against the other. They have spoiled the atmosphere of the country. So, we thought, country should be shown an alternative way. That is why we started this Yatra.” Rahul said that the yatra had been a learning experience after he interacted and got feedback from various sections of the society, including farmers, labourers, shopkeepers, traders and women.

Among the other Congress leaders who were present as the Yatra started were AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh, AICC Secretary in-charge Harish Chaudhary, MPs Manish Tewari, Dr Amar Singh, Mohammad Sadique and Ravneet Singh Bittu and party leaders Kuljeet Nagra and Gurpreet GP. From Haryana, apart from Hooda, Haryana AICC incharge Shaktisinh Gohil, and PCC president Udai Bhan participated in the flag handover ceremony.