On the second anniversary of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, emphasized the enduring mission of the initiative. He highlighted that the journey has underscored the inherent love of Indians and reiterated the goal of spreading this message of love throughout the country.
In a post on X, Gandhi reflected on the transformative experience of the yatra, stating that it taught him "the beauty of silence." Amidst the hustle of cheering crowds and slogans, he found the strength to focus deeply on individuals, truly listening to their stories and voices. "In those 145 days, and the two years since, I've listened to thousands of Indians from diverse backgrounds. Each voice has carried wisdom, teaching me something new, and each has represented our beloved Bharat Mata," Gandhi shared.
He reaffirmed his initial belief that "love will conquer hate and hope will defeat fear," and expressed that the mission remains the same—to ensure that the voice of Bharat Mata, the voice of love, is heard across every corner of the nation. Gandhi used the hashtag 'Bharat judne tak' to emphasize this continued commitment.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra began on September 7, 2022, in Kanyakumari and concluded on January 30, 2023, in Srinagar. Over the course of the 145-day march, Gandhi engaged with diverse groups, addressing 12 public meetings, more than 100 street corner meetings, and 13 press conferences. His interactions included over 275 walking and 100 sitting sessions.
The journey, spanning over 4,000 kilometers, attracted significant attention and saw participation from a wide array of individuals, including film and TV personalities like Kamal Haasan, Pooja Bhatt, Riya Sen, Swara Bhasker, Rashami Desai, Akanksha Puri, and Amol Palekar. Notable figures such as former Army chief Gen (Retd) Deepak Kapoor, ex-Navy chief Admiral (Retd) L Ramdas, former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan, and ex-finance secretary Arvind Mayaram also took part in the yatra.
Additionally, opposition leaders like Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Aaditya Thackeray, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sanjay Raut, and Supriya Sule joined Gandhi at various points throughout the march.
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