This is an archive article published on November 9, 2024
Dilli Nyay Yatra: First leg begins, Congress ups pressure on AAP
Adding to the theatrics were giant bottle-shaped balloons on mini-trucks featuring AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s face, with the slogan, “Bol rahi hai bottle, pol khol rahi hai bottle”..
Written by Saman Husain
New Delhi | November 9, 2024 03:58 AM IST
4 min read
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“Both the AAP and the BJP have been trying to mislead us on our issues, the Congress seems to be a better alternative in a situation like this,” said Nandish Shukla, a bus marshal part of the yatra. (Express)
Amid the lively chaos of Old Delhi’s narrow lanes and historic landmarks, the Congress kicked off its month-long Dilli Nyay Yatra Friday. Through the campaign, the party hopes to reconnect with the heart of the city and re-energise its cadre after years of electoral setbacks, and put pressure on the ruling AAP government ahead of the Assembly polls next year.
The yatra started off from Rajghat at 4.30 pm where a live music band set the tone, performing a mix of campaign songs — some original tunes and others dubbed to the tune of Bollywood hits. A standout track praised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with the tune of Teri Akhyan Ka Yo Kajal, while another took aim at the AAP, accusing it of alleged corruption with lyrics like, “Jhooth bol kar ke hi ye satta mai aaye hai, brashtachaar karke ye jail bhi ho aaye hai.”
Adding to the theatrics were giant bottle-shaped balloons on mini-trucks featuring AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s face, with the slogan, “Bol rahi hai bottle, pol khol rahi hai bottle” — alluding to the party’s alleged involvement in the liquor policy case.
The yatra then moved through Old Delhi’s iconic locales, making stops at the Holy Trinity Church and the handicrafts market at Turkman Gate. There was a brief pause during the evening azaan at the Razia Sultan Tomb, followed by chants of zindabad as the march entered Sita Ram Bazar, where supporters greeted the procession with shehnai and drum music in front of Haskar Haveli, Kamala Nehru’s ancestral home. At Hauz Qazi, women danced to the beat of dhols.
The yatra was officially flagged off by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maken, and Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav. Speaking from atop a bus, Yadav said, “Bapu has taught us to fight against injustice, and we will follow the path shown by him. The purpose of the yatra is to highlight problems of the people of Delhi and pave the way for their permanent solution.” Accusing the AAP of corruption and mismanagement, he hoisted the national flag to commence the march.
Maken said, “During the 15 years of Congress rule, Delhi was made a world-class city. AAP has ruined the Capital and made people miserable. Kejriwal has set records of corruption, leading to jail terms for himself, his Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and other party leaders.” He also challenged the AAP’s achievements and questioned their progress on Delhi’s Metro expansion, which was initiated during the Congress era.
The yatra seemed to have enthused workers as well as party supporters. “Both the AAP and the BJP have been trying to mislead us on our issues, the Congress seems to be a better alternative in a situation like this,” said Nandish Shukla, a bus marshal part of the yatra. The march then headed to Fatehpuri Masjid, where yatris will pause for a night halt.
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On Saturday, the yatra will resume from Jama Masjid, going to Chawri Bazar, Nai Sadak, Chandni Chowk Main Market, Lahori Gate, Sadar Bazar and will eventually halt at Patel Nagar. Visits to the Jain Mandir, Gauri Shankar Mandir, Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Jama Masjid have been scheduled, said leaders.
Saman Husain is a Correspondent at The Indian Express. Based in New Delhi, she is an emerging voice in political journalism, reporting on civic governance, elections, migration, and the social consequences of policy, with a focus on ground-reporting across Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh.
Professional Profile
Education:
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Honours) from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Core Beats:
Her reporting focuses on the national capital’s governance and politics. She specializes in Delhi’s civic administration and the city units of the BJP, AAP and Congress. In western Uttar Pradesh, she mostly reports on crime.
Specialization:
She has a keen interest in electoral processes and politics — her recent contributions include work on electoral roll revisions.
Recent Notable Articles (since July 2025)
Her recent work reflects a strong show-not-tell approach to storytelling, combining narrative reporting with political and historical context:
1. Politics:
“On the banks of the Yamuna, a political tussle for Purvanchali support” (October 6): A report on how migration histories shaped electoral strategies in Delhi before the Bihar elections.
“Explained: How Delhi’s natural drainage vanished gradually over the centuries” (September 29): An explanatory piece tracing the historical reasons that eventually led to the erosion of Delhi’s rivers and its impact on perrenial flooding.
2. Longforms
“Four weddings, three funerals: How a Uttar Pradesh man swindled insurance companies” (October 7): A long-read reconstructing a chilling fraud by a man who killed three of his family members, including both his parents for insurance proceeds. His fourth wife discovered his fraud…
“How Ghaziabad conman operated fake embassy of a country that doesn’t exist — for 9 years” (July 27) : A story on bizarre fraud operation and the institutional blind spots that enabled it.
3. Crime and Justice:
“He was 8 when his father was killed. Fifteen years later, in UP’s Shamli, he took revenge” (October 18): A deeply reported crime story tracing cycles of violence, memory and justice in rural Uttar Pradesh.
“Who killed 19 girls in Nithari? With the SC rejecting appeals, there are no answers and no closure” (July 31): A report capturing the long legal and emotional aftermath of one of India’s most chilling unsolved criminal cases.
4. Policy Impact
“At Manthan, over US tariffs, Delhi-NCR’s apparel industry brainstorms solutions” (September 8) and “Trump’s 50% tariff begins to bite: Agra’s leather belt feels the impact” (August 13) : Reports documenting how global trade decisions ripple through local industries, workers and exporters.
Signature Style
Saman is recognized for her grassroots storytelling. Her articles often focus on the "people behind the policy". She is particularly skilled at taking mundane administrative processes and turning them into compelling human narratives.
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