Rahul Gandhi Bharat Jodo Yatra Highlights: Digvijay Singh demands proof for surgical strikes against Pakistan, BJP accuses him of insulting armed forces

The ruling Congress' 'Haath Se Haath Jodo' campaign to be launched on January 26 would cover 7,881 polling booths and 3,226 gram panchayats in Himachal, president of the party's state unit Pratibha Singh said on Monday.

She said copies of a letter written by Rahul Gandhi highlighting the failures of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre would be distributed to each household during the two-month-long campaign.

"As some of the areas would be under snow cover, we will launch the campaign there in March", Singh said, adding that the Congress was compelled to raise its voice through the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and now, the 'Haath Se Haath Jodo' campaign as the voice of its leaders was not being heard in Parliament. (PTI)

Not for the first time, veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has put his party in a spot of bother by raising doubts about the 2016 surgical strike and drawing a backlash from the BJP that said the Opposition party was blinded by its “hate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had “insulted” armed forces.

Addressing a rally in Jammu during the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra on Monday, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said the BJP-led Union government talks about the surgical strike conducted across the LoC but has not furnished any proof to back its claim. “They talk about the surgical strike. That we killed so many people. But there is no proof. Keval jhoot ka pulinda se yah raj kar rahe hain (They are peddling a bundle of lies),” he said. Read the Political Pulse

A People's Democratic Party (PDP) delegation on Monday joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and discussed various issues including the government's eviction drive as well as demands of Kashmiri Pandit employees with him, a party leader said.

PDP's provincial president, youth wing, Pervez Waffa and additional general secretary Rajinder Manhas walked alongside Gandhi towards Satwari chowk for 15 minutes and briefed him about various issues concerning the common people, he said.

The delegation informed Gandhi about the eviction drive launched by the J-K administration to "snatch” the land from the people despite the fact that they are holding the property for generations. It also apprised him about the Dogra employees who have been on strike in Jammu for the past over six months, seeking their relocation outside Kashmir following targeted killings.

Growing unemployment in J-K, inflation and economic distress also came up for discussion during the interaction, the PDP leader said. (PTI) 

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra will conclude in a week in Srinagar. Apart from the political buzz and the many controversies the cross-country foot march has spawned over the last four-and-a-half months, what has not gone unnoticed is the Nehru-Gandhi family scion’s consistent engagement with Hindu religion. And not just temple visits.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited and offered prayers at the famous Raghunath Temple in Jammu.

?? #BharatJodoYatra ?? ????? @RahulGandhi ?? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?????????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ??????? ????? pic.twitter.com/V3E4aLEWL2

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2023

Responding to Congress leader Digvijay Singh's remarks on surgical strike, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said such comments show that the Rahul Gandhi-led foot march across the country is Bharat Jodo Yatra only in name while he and his party colleagues are working to 'break' the country through what he called the 'Bharat todo yatra'.

He said, 'India will not tolerate if they speak against armed forces. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress hate PM Modi but it seems they have been blinded by the hate to an extent that their dedication to the country has withered away.' He said Congress leaders had raised questions about the surgical strikes soon after the Indian Air Force said it hit terror camps in Balakot in Pakistan in retaliation to the Pulwama terror attack.

Country will not tolerate anyone speaking against India's security forces, says BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatiahttps://t.co/Shy9SLiqME

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) January 23, 2023

'Gandhi and the Congress do not have trust in our brave armed forces. They repeatedly raise questions and insult the citizens of India and our armed forces,' Bhatia claimed. He added that Congress leaders had tried to deflect attention from Pakistan after the terror attack as well. Randeep Singh Surjewala had then blamed 'home-grown terrorism', he claimed, alleging that the opposition party tried to give a clean chit to Pakistan.

Rahul Gandhi, who is in the last leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, recently revealed that when at home, neither does he eat rice nor roti. “When I am at home, I am pretty strict. So, I am careful. I don’t eat all sorts of stuff. I don’t eat carbohydrates — no rice, no roti,” he said, adding that if given a choice, and forced to eat, “I would eat roti probably”.

Rahul, who uses moveable trucks that turn into air-conditioned bedrooms to move from one city to another, said, “As part of the yatra, I eat everything when outdoors.”

Sharing that it is the first time he has walked through the various districts as part of the Yatra, which began on September 7, 2022 from Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari, he said that it has been a “different” experience. “I think travel is very important to get a good idea of what different cultures are doing,” said Rahul, 52. Read more

Responding to Singh's remark on surgical strikes, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said it was "shameful" of him to "question the valour and integrity" of the armed forces on the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi named 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees.

On a day, #IndiaHonoursParamVeers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi names 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, Congress and Digvijay Singh speak the language of Pakistan’s deep state, question the valour and integrity of our Armed Forces. Shame… pic.twitter.com/kWHcJ3EbXk

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 23, 2023

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre of "spreading lies" about surgical strikes by the Indian armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh was addressing a public rally during the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra's J&K leg in  Jammu.

Taking a jibe at the Central government's claims of surgical strikes in the valley, Singh said, "They (Centre) talk about surgical strikes and that they have killed so many of them but there is no proof. All they do is spread lies." He also appealed to all citizens to come forward and raise their voices against the injustice by the Central government.

Not often is Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is currently in Jammu and Kashmir leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra, asked about his marriage plans, but when he was during a recent interview, he was well prepared with his answer. 

During a candid chat with YouTuber Kamiya Jani of Curly Tales, the senior Congress leader said that he will get married when the right girl comes along and that his checklist just includes “ a loving person who is intelligent”. “When the right girl comes along, I’ll get married. I think that my bar is very high when it comes to marriages as my parents had a really lovely marriage,” he added. 

Discussing about his food habits, the Congress leader said that he was not a fussy eater but does not like to eat “kathal” (jackfruit) and “matar” (peas). Read more

Addressing a gathering in Jammu Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress party will put all its might behind restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. “There’s no bigger issue than your statehood. They (Centre) have snatched away your right. Congress party will show full support, it will put all its might behind restoring statehood,” Rahul said.

Addressing a gathering in Jammu Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits he met during the Bharat Jodo Yatra has claimed that when they met the Jammu and Kashmir L-G for their demands, they were told not to “beg”. “I want to tell the L-G, that they are not begging, they are asking for their rights,” Rahul added.

Earlier in the day, social activist Amit Koul, who was part of the delegation, told PTI that they have invited Rahul to their Jagti township along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and that he is likely to visit the community on his way to Kashmir. “We had a very good interaction with Gandhi and we briefed him about the issues of the community, especially the prime minister’s package employees who were provided jobs by the previous UPA government led by Manmohan Singh. They are on protest over the past six months in Jammu and their salaries have been withheld,” Koul said.

Several supporters gathered around the marchers as the Bharat Jodo Yatra went on its J&K leg on Monday.

???? ????? ?? ??? ????#BharatJodoYatra ?? ?????-?????? ?? ????

?? ????? ?? '???? ????? ??????' ?? ?????????? ??? ????? pic.twitter.com/RKqFU3StKE

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2023

Sharing images from the Jammu and Kashmir leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress Twitter handle said, "We are moving forward by uniting the country step by step... Holding hands, joining hearts..."

??? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??...#BharatJodoYatra ??? ??? ??, ????? ?? ??????.. ??? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ???

??? ????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??, ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ??? pic.twitter.com/PadhpsPiJF

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2023

After covering a distance of 22 kms on the 129th day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the marchers will reach Satwari chowk in Jammu, where Rahul Gandhi will address a gathering before moving to Sidhra for a night halt. 

Officials, quoted by news agency PTI, said the yatra was progressing smoothly under a tight security cover and had reached Saroor at 8.45 am where it stopped for a tea-break.

Rahul Gandhi was seen in a white T-shirt again as he resumed his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Vijaypur, Samba in Jammu and Kashmir.

LIVE: #BharatJodoYatra resumes from Vijaypur, Samba, J&K. https://t.co/nIqlfAaidc

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2023

The Congress alleged on Sunday that debt, unemployment and inequality have risen in the country under the Narendra Modi government and the debt on every Indian has increased by 2.53 times in the last nine years.

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said the astronomical increase in the government's debt due to 'Modinomics' has crushed the common people as the debt per Indian has increased from Rs 43,124 to Rs 1,09,373 since 2014. Vallabh alleged that the economy has witnessed a K-shaped recovery under the BJP-led regime and asked why did the debt per Indian see a 2.53-time jump in the last nine years.

?????? ?? ???? 2014 ?? ??? ?? 55 ??? ????? ??. ?? ???? ???

?2014 ?? 2023 ?? ??? ?? ???? ????? 155 ??? ????? ??. ?? ????

??? ?? ?????? ?? 1 ??? 9 ???? ??. ?? ???? ???

??? ??? 'K ?????' ?????? ???? ??, ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???

: @GouravVallabh ?? pic.twitter.com/z5ocHT0U26

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 22, 2023

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged that the 'friends' of Prime Minister Modi kept 'picking pockets' as the media diverted public attention. 'How did the wealth of the prime minister's 'favourite friend' increase by eight times during the pandemic? How did the wealth of the prime minister's 'favourite friend' increase by 46 per cent in one year? The media kept diverting the attention of the public, while the 'friends' of the prime minister kept picking pockets. The earnings of the poor were stolen by 'friends',' Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. (PTI)

Terrorism is alive in Jammu and Kashmir despite the abrogation of Article 370, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said on Sunday.

Singh said the recent terror attacks including the one at Dhangri village in Rajouri district are worrisome. The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister made the remarks after visiting terror attack victims, along with Jairam Ramesh and J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma. 

“First of all, we condemn the terror attacks in Dhangri in Rajouri and Narwal in Jammu. The situation in J&K is not what is being propagated after the abrogation of Article 370. Targeted and selective killings and bomb blasts have started once again,” Singh told reporters. “One of the survivors from the Dhangri attack has become disabled for life and the government has provided him Rs 1 lakh. We want a permanent rehabilitation policy for such victims so that they can live their life without being dependent on anyone,” Singh said. 

“We do not want any political mileage out of these worrisome incidents but we cannot ignore one thing that the terrorism is still alive in J&K even after the abrogation of Article 370,” he added. (PTI)

Senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Digvijay Singh, who are in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the last leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, on Sunday visited the hospital, where the survivors of Jammu twin blasts are undergoing treatment. The blasts happened while Jammu and Kashmir was in a blanket of heavy security in the view of Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"We hope that the Jammu and Kashmir administration will take care of the security arrangements, we have been assured so. We can't compromise the security of Rahul Gandhi," AICC General Secretary in charge Communications Jairam Ramesh told news agency ANI.

Reacting to the linking of the blasts with the Congress party's foot march, Jairam Ramesh said, "Not sure if the blasts were done to stop Bharat Jodo yatra, only security agencies can give information on that. I can assure you that nothing will be able to stop the Bharat Jodo yatra." (ANI)

There is no buzz at the Congress headquarters in Srinagar. In fact, it is near desolate. Party leaders tell you that all of them are in Jammu, to participate in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, while the workers are “on the ground to carry the message” of harmony of the former Congress vice-president, and invite people to his Yatra, which will end with flag-hoisting in Srinagar on January 30.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will hoist the national flag at party headquarters in Srinagar at the culmination of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' on January 30, with all Pradesh Congress Committee offices following suit in solidarity with the Yatra.

Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started in Kanyakumari on September 7, will conclude on January 30 in Srinagar after having covered 3,970 km, 12 states and two Union territories.

"The Bharat Jodo Yatra has received an overwhelming response from millions of people and has spread Rahul Gandhi's message of love and unity among citizens of the country. The tremendous support from all sections of the society and heartfelt involvement of the people has made this a historic Yatra and a game changer in Indian politics," he said in a statement.

Venugopal said to mark the culmination of Yatra, Gandhi will hoist the tricolour at PCC headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar at 10 am on January 30. "As desired by the Congress president, all Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs), District Congress Committees and Block Congress Committees will also hold flag hoisting functions at the same time on January 30 at their respective party offices or important sites in solidarity with the Bharat Jodo Yatra," he added. (PTI)

The Bharat Jodo Yatra on Sunday that resumed from Kashmir’s Kathua district in the morning saw huge number of participants, including people of different age groups and professions.

The Congress party shared a few pictures on its Twitter page @incindia.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would meet Kashmiri Pandits on Monday, AICC J&K incharge Rajani Patel said during a press meet.

?? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ???????

?? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??????, ????????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????????? ?? ?? ??? ?? : @rajanipatil_in ??#BharatJodoYatra pic.twitter.com/IPUsGyaXcH

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 22, 2023

The Wayanad MP will listen to the issues of the issues currently faced by the valley's Kashmiri Pandits and help them voice their demands, Patel added.

A day after twin bomb blasts rocked a busy locality in Narwal on the outskirts of Jammu City leaving nine people injured, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Sunday said the Congress party will not accept any compromise on the security of Rahul Gandhi who is leading the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Jammu and Kashmir.

“There will be no compromise on the security of Gandhi. His security is our topmost priority and we are following the guidelines of security agencies in totality,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday accused senior Congress leader Rahul Singh of creating hatred through the Bharat Jodo Yatra only to regain power, and accused him of tarnishing India's image on international platforms.

"Is India breaking? The country already got divided in 1947. Pakistan was created, though the leaders at that time were not in favour…These days, Rahul Gandhi is going around saying in his Bharat Jodo Yatra that there is hatred everywhere in India," news agency PTI quoted Singh as saying.

The Opposition, which is looking to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, seems to be running on diverging tracks with the Congress launching its own campaigns to reach out to the people and various other leaders speculated as the aspirants of prime ministerial contest holding their separate rallies.

The latest in this episode was evident which suggests disunity in the Opposition was a mega rally by Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) which was attended by several political parties at Khammam earlier this week, followed by Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh's allegation on Congress.

Ghosh on Saturday alleged that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee batted for a coordination team between Opposition parties and a joint program in other states, however, Congress "did not respond to it" in its attempt to "move alone".

"WB CM proposed that there should be a coordination team between Opposition parties and a joint program in other states, especially in BJP-ruled states, but Congress didn't respond (to it). They're trying to move alone," he alleged while remarking on the party's follow-up campaign to Bharat Jodo Yatra, named as 'Haath se Haath jodo'. (ANI)

The Congress Saturday released a "charge sheet" against the Narendra Modi government, terming the BJP a 'Bhrasht Jumla Party' and alleging that its mantra was 'kuch ka saath, khud ka vikas, sabke saath vishwasghaat' (for the benefit of few, development for self and betrayal of everyone)".

The opposition party also said that Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra, will hoist the national flag at the Pradesh Congress Committee office in Srinagar's Lal Chowk area followed by a public meeting at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium which will mark the culmination of the Kanyakumari to Kashmir march.

At a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh and general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal also unveiled the logo of the party's follow-up programme to the yatra -- Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan'. (PTI)

Sharing the link to an Opinion piece he wrote along with Salman Soz, deputy chairman of All India Professionals’ Congress, in The Indian Express, Congress leader Amitabh Dubey tweeted Sunday: "Union Minister @DrJitendraSingh peddled a toxic distortion of Jammu & Kashmir history. A Dogra and a Kashmiri take his story apart."

Union Minister @DrJitendraSingh peddled a toxic distortion of Jammu & Kashmir history.

A Dogra and a Kashmiri take his story apart. https://t.co/1Vc0wDJ55g

— Amitabh Dubey (@dubeyamitabh) January 22, 2023

??????? ?? ????????#BharatJodoYatra pic.twitter.com/ZrvPTXRmPK

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 22, 2023

?? #BharatJodoYatra ?? ????? ?????????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????.. pic.twitter.com/eMVFjNb9Ds

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 22, 2023

?????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??...?? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?????#BharatJodoYatra pic.twitter.com/mPKxbqNHaS

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 22, 2023

There is no buzz at the Congress headquarters in Srinagar. In fact, it is near desolate. Party leaders tell you that all of them are in Jammu, to participate in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, while the workers are “on the ground to carry the message” of harmony of the former Congress vice-president, and invite people to his Yatra, which will end with flag-hoisting in Srinagar on January 30.

On Srinagar’s Maulana Azad Road, the Congress’s state headquarters, there are less than a dozen workers and the party office in-charge, Mohammad Anwar Bhat. It is at this party office that Rahul will culminate his 3,000-plus-km Yatra with hoisting of the Tricolour. Read more

Responding to Congress's 'Haath se Haath jodo', a follow-up to Bharat Jodo Yatra, which will take place for two months starting on January 26, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Saturday said that Congress Party was attempting to move alone.

Ghosh further said that West Bengal Chief Minister had proposed that there should be a coordination team between Opposition parties and a joint program in other states, especially in BJP-ruled states, but Congress didn't respond (to it). "They're trying to move alone," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said while talking to ANI.

"Congress has failed in many state polls and in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. So the scientific methodological Opposition mechanism should be made according to WB CM Mamata Banerjee's proposal. Hope Congress understands this," Ghosh added.

"Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan' will begin on Jan 26 - a house-to-house campaign to spread the message of the Bharat Jodo Yatra to common people," Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal told reporters. (ANI)

LIVE: #BharatJodoYatra resumes from Hiranagar morh, J&K. https://t.co/8iMJ1zsQ1a

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 22, 2023

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed Sunday from Hiranagar in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district amid heightened security in the wake of twin blasts in Jammu. After a day-long break, the foot march started as per schedule around 7 am from Hiranagar near the International Border along the Jammu-Pathankot highway which was sealed by police and other security forces.

Accompanied by J-K Pradesh Congress chief Vikar Rasool Wani, working president Raman Bhalla and hundreds of volunteers carrying the tricolour, Gandhi entered Samba district's Tapyal-Gagwal after crossing Londi check point at around 8 am and was greeted by enthusiastic workers and supporters waiting on both sides of the road.

After covering about 25-km distance, the march will have a night halt at Chak Nanak before restarting from Samba's Vijaypur for Jammu, where it will reach on Monday. Officials said adequate security arrangements are in place for Gandhi with police, CRPF and other security agencies keeping a tight vigil to ensure a peaceful march.

The yatra is scheduled to end in Srinagar on January 30 with hoisting of national flag at Congress headquarters by Gandhi. (PTI)