BJP may create communal tension to divert attention from Bharat Jodo Yatra, says Congress

AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra HK Patil told ETV Bharat's Amit Agnihotri that the BJP may try to deflect public attention from Bharat Jodo Yatra by “creating communal disturbances” and said that the massive outreach program would act as a “warning” to the saffron party.

New Delhi:The Congress on Monday alleged that the BJP may try to deflect public attention from the Bharat Jodo Yatra starting September 7 by “creating communal disturbances” and said that the massive outreach program would act as a “warning” to the saffron party.

“They (BJP) may create communal disturbances in Rajasthan when the yatra is passing through Maharashtra. Whether they do it along the yatra route or in some other state like UT Jammu and Kashmir, we will respond,” AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra HK Patil told this channel in an exclusive interview. “The yatra will be like a warning to the BJP not to indulge in any such activity. The yatra is not about this or that state, it is a national platform,” he said.

According to Patil, “the BJP has been creating communal disturbances over issues like Hijab, mutton and moral policing and is in a good number of cities they have been creating social disharmony at the Idgah.” The Congress leader further said that the entire focus of the Bharat Jodo Yatra is to unite the country against the “divisive” politics of the BJP and to revive the party across the country.

“The BJP has been concerned by our party program. The saffron party may not be able to take the risk of ensuring our success and it has still not given up its old tricks,” said Patil. "There will be national media attention on our yatra. The BJP may use its influence on the media to deflect attention through communal disturbances,” he said.

The Congress veteran’s reaction came shortly after AICC general secretary in charge of organization KC Venugopal, along with Digvijay Singh, who heads the national panel for coordination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, reviewed preparations for the massive public contact programme with various states in charge and coordinators. Venugopal too expressed similar concerns.

“The BJP is worried that the yatra to be launched on September 7 from Kanyakumari is going to be massive and historic. Along with the main yatra, local yatras will be conducted in all the assembly constituencies across the country on September 8 from 7 am to 10 am. Our workers are very enthusiastic and the entire country is awaiting the yatra. The BJP will try to do diversion to deflect public attention,” Venugopal also said.

To counter the BJP’s alleged “divisive” politics, the grand old party has planned to highlight the secular ethos of the country by holding Sarva Dharma Sambhav (all-religion) prayer meetings in all the blocks across the country on September 7 at 5 pm, when the yatra will be officially flagged off at Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, said Digvijay Singh.

Patil further said that Rahul Gandhi, who will walk for most part of the 3500 km yatra, will regularly highlight the shortcomings in the Modi government’s policies and the resultant economic woes of the people. Besides, he would also flag the issue of widespread unemployment, said Patil.

The Congress veteran said the yatra will pass through 12 states and in states where the foot march will not pass through, the state unit chiefs and the CLP leaders have been asked to furnish details of the number of households reached. The states where the yatra is not passing through are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam and other north-eastern states.

“This has been done to fix accountability of the state in charge and the CLP leaders where the yatra is not passing through. They have been mandated to conduct local yatras and ensure that party functionaries reach all the households,” said Patil.

“For six months Rahul will keep highlighting the people’s issues. He will talk about the huge loan waivers for the corporates and the whole freebies vs social welfare debate. The benefit of the yatra would be that the message would get repeated. The yatra would become popular and our workers would get charged up. The effort will allow the public to form an opinion,” said Patil, listing the benefits of the outreach program.

The launch event, a big rally at Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari would have crowds mostly from the host state, Kerala and Puducherry but there will be leaders from all over the country.

While 100 volunteers will continuously walk along with Rahul throughout the entire route, 100 volunteers each from the state where the yatra is not passing through and from the host state will also be part of the entourage, said the Congress veteran.

To encourage social bonding between the people of the states, the volunteers have been asked to collect soil and water samples from the states where the yatra is not passing through and use them to plant saplings at places where the main yatra would have night halts.

This, said the veteran, would leave trees over the coming years as memories of the big event. While all leaders have been asked to join the yatra, the party has now allowed their family members also to widen public participation.