‘BJP is scared of Congress’, says party after Manipur govt declines, later permits start of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Imphal

The assertion, made at a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi in the afternoon, came after the Manipur government in an order said it has approved Hapta Kangjeibung ground or the Palace Grounds as the venue to begin Congress’ Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra but with “limited participants”.

The press conference was addressed by Congress general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal.

“This is the decision of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and our party is doing a programme. The Manipur government is holding programmes everywhere so, why is it denying this (permission)? There is only one reason —they are probably scared of the yatra,” Venugopal said.

Ramesh and Venugopal also released a pamphlet and launched a website on the Manipur-to-Maharashtra yatra, which is scheduled to begin on January 14.

The pamphlet provides information about the objective of the Bharat Jodo Nyay yatra and details about how to join it. The party will also run a ‘Nyay Yoddhas’ campaign under which people can become volunteers for the yatra by giving a missed call on a phone number.

While making it clear that the yatra is not electoral, Venugopal said, “The Congress is simultaneously preparing for the 2024 general election and there is no confusion between the yatra and the election preparations.” He added that the party will be holding a meeting of the coordinators of all parliamentary constituencies on January 11 and 12.

The yatra, being organised ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, will cover 110 districts and 100 Lok Sabha seats in 66 days.