Bharat Jodo Yatra: Sonia, Priyanka to join Rahul in Karnataka

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will participate in the Karnataka leg of the “Bharat Jodo Yatra” led by Rahul Gandhi that will be entering the state on September 30, state party chief D K Shivakumar said on Friday (September 23).

Noting that the Karnataka Congress has made preparations for the yatra by giving responsibility to leaders, Shivakumar said Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi would be participating in the yatra here; they will be giving dates. “…I will announce the dates in the future.”

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AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, along with another AICC general secretary and in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, state Congress President Shivakumar and a host of leaders on Friday participated in the party’s review meeting on the yatra.

“In Karnataka, Congress president Sonia Gandhi may attend the Bharat Jodo Yatra some day, and Priyanka Gandhi will also be joining separately,” Venugopal said.

Noting that the Karnataka leg of the yatra will begin at Gundlupet on September 30 at 9 am, Shivakumar said on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, there is a programme at Badanavalu in Nanjangud Taluk, which is known for its Khadi and Gramodyog Centre.

“There will be two days holiday for Dasara, there will be a public meeting in Ballari, in between Rahul Gandhi will be interacting with youth, women, civil society, students, tribal community and farmers among others each day, and teams have been formed for this,” he added.

Not wanting to comment on the demand for Rahul Gandhi as AICC president, Shivakumar, in response to a question, said, “KPCC has already authorised the Congress president…we all are committed that Rahul ji should lead the party, but it is left to him.”

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The AICC was fully satisfied with the arrangements made by KPCC for the yatra, Venugopal said, adding the march has been successful so far and the response to it in Tamil Nadu and Kerala is “unimaginable and beyond expectations”.

Arrangements have been made in Karnataka to ensure the same success, he said.

“For the last 10 years, the BJP and Sangh Parivar had one duty- to tarnish the image of Rahul Gandhi, but people now realise as to who is Rahul Gandhi…this yatra will be a turning point in Indian politics.”

Responding to a question, Venugopal said, “PayCM is not a campaign created by the Congress party. The party is only taking up genuine issues raised by people of Karnataka, everyone is saying this is the most corrupt government in the state.”

The Congress is not scared of arrests, party workers have enough courage and will raise the corruption issue again and again, come what may, he said.

(With Agency inputs)